The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced its annual player contracts for the 2023-2024 season, with some notable inclusions and exclusions.
Top Tier Unchanged, Familiar Names in Grade A
The elite Grade A+ category remains unchanged, featuring the established quartet of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja. These players continue to be the BCCI’s highest earners.
Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, and Hardik Pandya retained their positions in Grade A. Meanwhile, KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, and Shubman Gill were promoted from Grade B in recognition of their consistent performances.
Yadav Leads Young Guns in Grade B
The red-hot No. 1 ranked T20I batter, Suryakumar Yadav, finds himself in Grade B alongside exciting young talent like Yashasvi Jaiswal, who received his first-ever BCCI central contract. Jaiswal’s consistent performances in domestic cricket have earned him this well-deserved recognition.
Fresh Faces in Grade C: T20 Specialists and Promising Talents
Several members of India’s T20I squad, including Rinku Singh, Tilak Verma, Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi, and Jitesh Sharma, were awarded Grade C contracts. These players have contributed significantly to India’s success in the shortest format.
Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan have an opportunity to join the Grade C category if they are selected for the final Test against England in Dharamsala. The eligibility criteria for a Grade C contract require players to have played a minimum of 3 Tests, 8 ODIs, or 10 T20Is within the specified period.
Both Jurel and Khan have played two Tests each, and featuring in the upcoming match would fulfill the requirement for their maiden BCCI contracts.
Investing in the Future: Five Pacers Recommended for Fast Bowling Contracts
The BCCI selection committee has also recommended five young pacers â Akash Deep, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Umran Malik, Yash Dayal, and Vidwath Kaverappa â for specialized fast bowling contracts. This move highlights the BCCI’s focus on nurturing and developing future pace bowling prospects.
The BCCI’s annual player contracts not only reward established players but also pave the way for the development of promising young talents like Jaiswal, Jurel, and Khan. These contracts provide financial security and recognition, potentially serving as a springboard for future success on the international stage.
Grade A+
Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja
Grade A
R Ashwin, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya
Grade B
Surya Kumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Yashasvi Jaiswal
Grade C
Rinku Singh, Tilak Verma, Ruturaj Gaekwad, Shardul Thakur, Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi, Jitesh Sharma, Washington Sundar, Mukesh Kumar, Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh, KS Bharat, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan and Rajat Patidar
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