--- title: "Why I Started My Cricket Academy in Mumbai" description: "I founded this academy to give middle-class kids a fair shot at cricket. Learn about my journey from IPL player to coach and our training philosophy." canonical: https://mytribe.in/dineshsalunkhecricketacademy/cricket-coaching-programs/my-story-why-i-started-this-academy last_updated: 2025-09-29 --- # Why I Started This Cricket Academy Tribe Verified · Founded by IPL champion Dinesh Salunkhe By [Dinesh Salunkhe Cricket Academy](https://mytribe.in/dineshsalunkhecricketacademy) · Coaching at Chembur; open to students across Mumbai · ₹2,000 Per Session (estimate) Part of [Cricket Coaching Programs](https://mytribe.in/dineshsalunkhecricketacademy/cricket-coaching-programs). [View full gallery](https://mytribe.in/dineshsalunkhecricketacademy/cricket-coaching-programs/gallery) I built this academy to ensure that talent from any background gets a fair shot at the game I love. Coaching for me isn't just a business—it's about giving back. ## Photos and videos - [Video: In this interview, I share the real reason behind starting this academy. It came from my own journey and my dream to give back to the sport by creating a pathway for the next generation of cricketers, especially those who need the support most.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/a60536cf-da7c-474a-8298-06e247683cb6) ## About My Story: Why I Started This Academy Growing up in a modest home, I know what it means to fight for every opportunity. When I won the IPL, I didn't want to just rest on that—I wanted to create the platform I never had. My academy is for the middle-class kid who has the talent but gets stopped by the cost. I don't care where you come from or what your background is; if you have the drive, we will find a way to get you on the pitch. In 2008, when I won the IPL, I realized my life had changed, but the reality for most aspiring cricketers had not. I looked at the local Chembur grounds and saw the same struggles I faced as a boy. Talent is everywhere in Mumbai, but opportunity is often hidden behind high price tags and elite circles. That is why this academy exists. We are not a fancy coaching center. We are a space for middle-class boys, auto-drivers' sons, and kids from humble families who just want to play. I don't believe in over-polishing technique at the cost of real grit. You need to know how to play on uneven patches and how to handle pressure before you can master the perfectly groomed turfs. If you come to train with me, expect two things: hard work and honesty. I will tell you exactly where you stand. I don't sugarcoat, and I don't waste time. My coaching is a direct reflection of what legends like Shane Warne taught me—it’s about the mental game, the discipline, and the sheer hunger to improve every single day. If you are here to learn, the door is open. If you are here for a show, this isn't the place for you. ## About Dinesh Salunkhe Cricket Academy I'm Dinesh Salunkhe. I don't look at you as just another student; I look at you as the next cricketer who needs a real chance. My training is direct—no fluff, just pure cricket and the discipline it takes to make it big. [See all of Dinesh Salunkhe Cricket Academy's services](https://mytribe.in/dineshsalunkhecricketacademy) ## More from Cricket Coaching Programs by Dinesh Salunkhe Cricket Academy - [Featured](https://mytribe.in/dineshsalunkhecricketacademy/cricket-coaching-programs/featured) - [Our Star Players: From Academy to Arena](https://mytribe.in/dineshsalunkhecricketacademy/cricket-coaching-programs/our-star-players-from-academy-to-arena) - [Words from Cricket Legends](https://mytribe.in/dineshsalunkhecricketacademy/cricket-coaching-programs/words-from-cricket-legends) - [Training at the Nets: Batting & Bowling](https://mytribe.in/dineshsalunkhecricketacademy/cricket-coaching-programs/training-at-the-nets-batting-bowling) - [The Grind: Fitness & Fielding Drills](https://mytribe.in/dineshsalunkhecricketacademy/cricket-coaching-programs/the-grind-fitness-fielding-drills) - [Meet the Coaches](https://mytribe.in/dineshsalunkhecricketacademy/cricket-coaching-programs/meet-the-coaches) - [Academy Life: More Than Just a Game](https://mytribe.in/dineshsalunkhecricketacademy/cricket-coaching-programs/academy-life-more-than-just-a-game) ## More services by Dinesh Salunkhe Cricket Academy - [Seasonal Camps & Selection Trials](https://mytribe.in/dineshsalunkhecricketacademy/seasonal-camps-selection-trials) ## Similar work from other experts - [Professional Cricket Coaching for Future Stars](https://mytribe.in/homegroundcricketacademy/cricket-facility-net-rentals/nurturing-future-stars) by Homeground Cricket Academy · Cricket Facility & Net Rentals · Available at Paul Valthaty Cricket Academy, Kandivali East - [From Our Academy to the Big Leagues](https://mytribe.in/machocricketacademy/one-on-one-cricket-coaching/from-our-academy-to-the-big-leagues) by Macho Cricket Academy · One-on-One Cricket Coaching · Coaching at Karnataka Sports Ground & across Mumbai - [Our Players, Our Pride: From Academy to National Stage](https://mytribe.in/cricketcity/high-performance-program-for-elite-cricketers/our-players-our-pride-from-academy-to-national-stage) by City Cricket Academy · High-Performance Program for Elite Cricketers · 6 academies across Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Maharashtra & UP - [Real Cricket Success Stories from Mumbai](https://mytribe.in/sunilcricketacademy/professional-cricket-pathway-program/our-player-journeys) by Sunil Cricket Academy · Professional Cricket Pathway Program · Training at academies in Churchgate and Dharavi, Mumbai - [Our Coaching Philosophy and Academy Roots](https://mytribe.in/visioncricketacademy/cricket-coaching-player-development/about-vision-cricket-academy) by Vision Cricket Academy · Cricket Coaching & Player Development · Academy at Dahisar East, Mumbai - [From Payyade to the Pros](https://mytribe.in/payyadesportsmumbai/cricket-coaching-training-programs/from-payyade-to-the-pros) by Payyade Sports Club · Cricket Coaching & Training Programs · Coaching at 4 locations across Kandivali and Borivali, Mumbai ## Book To book Dinesh Salunkhe Cricket Academy, message mytribe on WhatsApp: [Chat on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/916360004054?text=Hi%2C%20I%20saw%20your%20story%20on%20mytribe%20and%20I'm%20interested%20in%20joining%20the%20academy.%20Could%20you%20tell%20me%20about%20the%20upcoming%20batch%20timings%3F)