In a recent announcement, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) unveiled the central contracts for the 2023-24 season. The notable inclusion was the Grade A+ category, featuring key players such as captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja. However, there were conspicuous omissions, with Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer notably absent from the central contracts list.
According to reports, the Exclusion of Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer could be linked to their defiance of directives to participate in the Ranji Trophy. The BCCI, known for its strict adherence to discipline and commitment, seems to have taken a stern stance by not including the two star players in the central contracts.
A statement from the BCCI clarified the situation, saying, “Please note that Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan were not considered for the annual contracts in this round of recommendations.”
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In contrast, the central contracts list welcomed new faces like Rinku Singh and Tilak Varma, who found their place in the Grade C category. This category, comprising 15 players, also saw the return of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shivam Dube, who made significant comebacks to the Indian T20I team. Jitesh Sharma, a replacement for Ishan Kishan in the T20I squad, was also included in the ‘C’ list.
The central contracts further highlighted the placement of players based on their performances and contributions. Rishabh Pant, recovering from a car crash in December 2022, secured a spot in Grade B alongside Suryakumar Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. The promising Jaiswal, who played a pivotal role in India’s Test series win against England, stood out as the highest run-scorer in the ongoing series.
Grade A+
Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja.#TeamIndia
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 28, 2024
Grade A
R Ashwin, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya.#TeamIndia
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 28, 2024
Grade B
Surya Kumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Yashasvi Jaiswal.#TeamIndia
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 28, 2024
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.#TeamIndia
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 28, 2024
In the Grade A category, veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin shared the stage with pace bowlers Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj, along with batters KL Rahul and Shubman Gill. Hardik Pandya, who led the Indian T20I squad in 2023, earned a Grade A central contract.
The Selection Committee has also recommended Fast Bowling contracts for the following athletes – Akash Deep, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Umran Malik, Yash Dayal and Vidwath Kaverappa.#TeamIndia
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 28, 2024
Additionally, athletes who meet the criteria of playing a minimum of 3 Tests or 8 ODIs or 10 T20Is within the specified period will automatically be included in Grade C on a pro-rata basis.
For more details, click the link below 👇👇https://t.co/IzRjzUUdel #TeamIndia
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 28, 2024
The BCCI statement outlined the specific criteria for players to be included in Grade C contracts, emphasizing the importance of meeting minimum match requirements within the designated period (October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024). Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan, having participated in two Test matches, were noted as potential Grade C candidates if they feature in the upcoming Dharamsala Test against England.
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Additionally, the Selection Committee recommended fast bowling contracts for players recognized for their specialized skills and potential contributions in the bowling department. The recipients of these contracts included Akash Deep, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Umran Malik, Yash Dayal, and Vidwath Kaverappa.
The comprehensive central contracts for the 2023-24 season underscore the BCCI’s commitment to recognizing and rewarding players based on their performances and contributions across formats.
