BCCI Official Explains Reason Behind Cheteshwar Pujara's Absence In ''A+ Category''

Last night, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has announced the central contracts for the Indian players. There have been quite a few surprising calls on the list with few of the top-class players being removed from the highest categories. In between, questions raised on the contract for Cheteshwar Pujara, who was offered ”A-Category” rather than A+.

In A-Plus Category, only three players have been named. The Indian skipper Virat Kohli, Vice Captain Rohit Sharma and the Ace fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who will get INR 7 Crores. In between, A Category got 11 players in it.

The player should excel in at least two formats – BCCI Official

Speaking of the difference in contracts, the BCCI official quoted that the player should perform well at least in a couple of formats if not three formats to bag the top contract. Further, he added that the players, who show their calibre in single format will get ”A” contract.

“Pujara did well in Australia. But A-plus category is only for those who are excelling in at least two if not three formats. Pujara is only playing one format. Similarly, Ishant Sharma plays one format and is in A category,” a BCCI official was quoted as saying by PTI.

The likes of Ashwin, Jadeja also finds a place in the ‘A” Category, The youngster Rishabh Pant, Shikhar Dhawan and the vice-captain in Tests Ajinkya Rahane joins the chart. The experienced campaigner Mahendra Singh Dhoni also placed in ”A” Category.

The A grade features 11 players who will pocket INR 5 crore including Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, MS Dhoni. Shikhar Dhawan, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant.

Coming to B category, perhaps, the recent set of events have pushed down Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul to B grade. KL Rahul used to be in the top bracket but his performance graph has pushed him down in the central contract.

In Grade B are KL Rahul, Umesh Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal and Hardik Pandya who will each take home INR 3 crore. The fourth and final grade C features Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Ambati Rayudu. Manish Pandey, Hanuma Vihari, Khaleel Ahmed and Wriddhiman Saha.