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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has revealed the Annual Player Contracts for Team India (Senior Men) for the 2023-24 season, spanning from October 1st, 2023 to September 30th, 2024. The announcement, made on Wednesday, brings both surprises and confirmations regarding the players’ contract statuses.
Grade A+ stars shine bright
The top tier, Grade A+, includes stalwarts such as captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja, highlighting their pivotal roles in the squad.
Notable exclusions: Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer
In a significant development, star cricketers Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer have not found a place in the central contracts list. This exclusion comes in the wake of reports suggesting their non-compliance with directives to participate in the Ranji Trophy. The decision indicates the BCCI’s stringent stance on adherence to its guidelines.
According to the official release by the BCCI, Iyer and Kishan were not considered for the annual contracts in this round of recommendations, indicating a strict stance by the board on disciplinary matters.
Veteran presence in Grade A
Seasoned campaigner Ravichandran Ashwin finds himself in Grade A, alongside pace sensations Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj, as well as reliable batters KL Rahul and Shubman Gill. Additionally, star all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who led the Indian T20I squad in 2023, secures his spot in the Grade A central contracts.
Rising stars and new faces
Rishabh Pant, currently recovering from a car accident in December 2022, is placed in Grade B along with Suryakumar Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Jaiswal’s inclusion comes on the back of his consistent performances across T20Is and Tests, notably contributing to India’s Test series win against England.
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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.
Focus on domestic cricket
In addition to the contracts, the BCCI emphasizes the importance of participating in domestic cricket during periods when players are not representing the national team. The Selection Committee has also recommended Fast Bowling contracts for select players – Akash Deep, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Umran Malik, Yash Dayal and Vidwath Kaverappa – emphasizing the need for a well-rounded development pathway for Indian cricket talent.
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