BCCI Announces New Contracts: Who Got Promoted

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has recently unveiled its latest annual player contracts for the Indian men’s cricket team, covering the 2023-24 season.

From C to B to A: Shubman Gill

Shubhman Gill’s impressive journey continues as he skyrockets from Grade C to Grade B, and now, astonishingly, to Grade A in his latest contract. This meteoric rise highlights his exceptional talent and hard work, marking him as a standout player whose contributions and potential have been rightfully acknowledged and rewarded.

Grading System and Top Earners

The BCCI’s contract system divides players into four categories: A+, A, B, and C. Here’s the current breakdown:

• Grade A+: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja
• Grade A: R Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya
• Grade B: Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, 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

Players in the top tier, Grade A+, receive the highest remuneration. Unsurprisingly, stalwarts Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja retain their positions in this elite category.

Notable Changes

• Rise of T20 Stars: Suryakumar Yadav’s elevation to Grade B recognizes his explosive dominance in T20 cricket. The inclusion of young talent Yashasvi Jaiswal highlights the BCCI’s focus on fostering the next generation of players.
• Focus on Consistency: Players like KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant have seen fluctuations in their grading over the past year, likely due to inconsistent performances across formats. This emphasizes the BCCI’s emphasis on sustained excellence.

The revised contracts indicate a few key trends:

• Prioritizing T20 success: With the rising popularity and commercial success of the T20 format, it’s natural to see the BCCI rewarding players who excel in this area.
• Balancing experience and youth: The contracts strike a balance between rewarding veteran performers and investing in emerging talent.
• Performance-driven approach: The BCCI is signaling that consistent high-level performances across formats are essential for securing top-tier contracts.