The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has released its annual list of centrally-contracted players, with captains Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retaining their spots in the prestigious A+ category. However, the list also saw notable omissions and promotions based on the players’ performances and adherence to BCCI’s directives, including participation in domestic competitions like the Ranji Trophy.
Promotions and Demotions: KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Mohammed Siraj have been promoted from Grade B to A, acknowledging their significant contributions to the team. Kuldeep Yadav moved up from Grade C to B, reflecting his improved performance. On the other hand, Rishabh Pant, previously in Grade A, has been moved to Grade B following a period of inactivity due to a severe accident in December 2022. Axar Patel also saw a demotion from Grade A to B.
New Entrants: Yashasvi Jaiswal, following his impressive outings in the Test series against England, has been awarded his first BCCI central contract, landing in Grade B. The list also welcomes newcomers Rinku Singh, Tilak Verma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi, Jitesh Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, and Rajat Patidar in Grade C.
Notable Exclusions: The exclusion of Cheteshwar Pujara, Shikhar Dhawan, Umesh Yadav, and Yuzvendra Chahal highlights the selectors’ shift in focus, as these seasoned players have fallen out of favor. Additionally, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer were not considered for contracts this year due to their non-participation in the Ranji Trophy, as emphasized by the BCCI.
The BCCI has reiterated the importance of national players participating in domestic cricket when not engaged in international duties, aiming to strengthen the domestic cricket framework and ensure players’ form and fitness.
Contract Categories and Remuneration: For the first time, the BCCI has chosen not to disclose the financial details of the contracts across the four categories, which traditionally range from Rs 7 crore for A+ to Rs 1 crore for Grade C, excluding match fees.
Contract Grades:
- Grade A+: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja
- Grade A: Includes stalwarts like R Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, and Hardik Pandya among others.
- Grade B: Features Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, and newly inducted Yashasvi Jaiswal.
- Grade C: Welcomes several new faces including Rinku Singh, Tilak Verma, and others.
- Fast Bowling Contracts: Acknowledges emerging talents like Akash Deep and Umran Malik.
This year’s BCCI central contracts highlight the board’s commitment to rewarding performance and potential while emphasizing the significance of domestic cricket participation.
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