Baroda Cricket Association is affiliated to the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) is considered to be one of the most successful and active cricket governing bodies in India and it is an important member of the BCCI. The BCA has a rich history of cricket playing in Baroda and it has also presented a number of famous cricketers like H R Adhikari, R B Nimbalkar, D K Gaekwad, J M Ghorpade, Anshuman Gaekwad, Rashid Patel and Kiran More. The association has also introduced the cricketers like Nayan Mongia, Atul Bedade, Jacob Martin and Irfan Pathan and Yusuf Pathan, in the recent times.
The Baroda Cricket Association promotes and develops Cricket by conducting various League Tournaments, Tournaments for the age group Under-13, Under-15, Under-17, and Under-19, Under-22 and Under-25 categories besides organising and conducting National Tournaments like the Ranji Trophy.
Currently there are 6 to 7 grounds under Baroda Cricket Association which are in very good condition. Some of the1st class games and BCCI Junior Tournaments and domestic tournament are played on these grounds. The ground has hosted many international games.
History of Baroda Cricket Association
Baroda started playing cricket in 1904 when Maharaja Sayajirao III hired a Parsi coach, Mr. Machiwala for training his sons in cricket.
The late Maharaja Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad was the founder of the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA), in 1934 and the Royal Gaekwad family remained one of the leading patrons of the BCA, from then. The Maharajas from the Gaekwad family, who led the BCA from time to time, include the names of Maharaja Fatehsinhrao.
The Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) was established as "The Central Board of Cricket, Baroda", on April 16, 1934 and Col. Shivrajsingh was first President of BCA. The first Hon. Secretaries were Prof. S. S. Joshi and Shri H. D. Desai and the association was christened as "Baroda State Cricket Association", in the year of 1937. The present association started to be recognised in the present name of Baroda Cricket Association, from the year 1938. The Central Board of Cricket, Baroda was a part of the Gujarat in its initial period, till the year of 1937 and when at a later period, it applied for a separate affiliation to the BCCI, it was immediately granted. The famous cricket stadium of Baroda is named as Maharaja Pratapsinh Coronation Gymkhana and the Maharaja of Kolhapur laid the foundation stone of the stadium on 25 April 1939. Apart from the Maharaja Pratapsinh Coronation Gymkhana, the Baroda Stadium is also another important stadium in Baroda (Vadodara) and the Maharaja Pratapsinh Gaekwad of Baroda laid the foundation stone of this stadium on 30 April 1939.
Maharaja Fatehsinhrao, the eldest son of Maharaja Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad took the charge of BCA in the year of 1949. He guided the destiny of cricket at the state as well as the National level. He was also the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from 1963-64 to 1965-66, and he became the youngest person to represent his country at International Cricket Council (ICC).
The connection of the Royal Gaekwad family with the Baroda Cricket Association is still intact, as the grandson of Maharaja Pratapsinhrao; Mr. Samarjitsinh Ranjitsinh Gaekwad is the present Vice President of the BCA. Apart from him, the eldest daughter of Maharaja Pratapsinhrao, Dr Mrunalinidevi Puar, is bearing the responsibilities of the Chairman of the Women`s Wing of Baroda Cricket Association, at the moment.
Baroda Cricket Association is exhibiting tremendous progress in the field of cricket and the association is working towards revamping the woman`s cricket in the state of Gujarat. They have also planned to impart scientific coaching to the players.
