The four senior cricketers who have been left out of the Sri Lanka series – Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Ishant Sharma and Wriddhiman Saha – have all been demoted in the BCCI central contracts, as reported by Times of India. So has been star all-rounder Hardik Pandya.
Ishant, Rahane, and Pujara have been demoted to Grade B from Grade A, Saha has been shifted down to Grade C from B. Hardik Pandya, who hasn’t played a single international since the T20 World Cup, has been shunned down from Grade A to C, in BCCI central contracts for 2022.
Another senior cricketer, pacer Umesh Yadav, who hasn’t been the first-choice bowler in Tests now, also gets a Grade C contract. So does, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who has seen his stocks dropped, matches misses due to fitness issues.
Grade A+ is worth Rs 7 crore while A, B and C are Rs 5 crore, Rs 3 crore and Rs 1 crore respectively.
Senior opener Shikhar Dhawan, who only features in ODIs now, is slotted in Grade B, in BCCI central contracts.
Rohit Sharma, vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah, and former captain
Virat Kohli – are in the Grade A category in BCCI’s central contracts, while Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul, Shami and R Ashwin have retained their previous contracts in the Grade A compartment.
Virat Kohli’s 100th Test match, starting Friday against Sri Lanka. The BCCI has now allowed to fill the PCA Stadium to 50% capacity. It was initially scheduled to be played behind closed doors due to Covid-19 however, now fans have been allowed to attend Kohli’s landmark Test.
