Veteran Indian team players Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Ishant Sharma might be demoted in the to-be-announced new BCCI central contracts list if reports from Times of India are to be believed.
The Indian team is ready to go through a transition phase and many within the board feel that performances of the young crop of players cannot be ignored any longer, while some senior players who have not been performing for quite some time, are set to be demoted to a lower pay grade.
The contracts are divided into four categories: A+, A, B, and C worth Rs 7 cr, 5 cr, 3 cr, and 1 cr. The draft of central contracts for the period Oct 2021-Sept 2022 has been ready for some months now. The formal announcement is likely to be made soon.
Times of India has reported that the under-fire duo of Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara are all set to be demoted to Grade B from the Grade A category. Joining them in this demotion is fast bowler Ishant Sharma.
Pujara and Rahane's demotion could signal the selectors' declining trust in these two veteran Test stars. Barring a century in the Boxing Day Test at MCG in Dec 2020, Rahane has struggled to contribute to the team's cause.
Mohammed Siraj is expected to get a promotion from Grade C to either Grade B or A. Axar Patel too may expect to be elevated from Grade C to B. Umesh Yadav is likely to fall to Grade C. Shardul Thakur is also likely to stay in Grade B.
Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah are set to be retained as A+ cricketers while KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant will remain in Grade A. Mohammed Shami, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will also remain in Grade A.
"The draft was made after the T20 World Cup. A final call will be taken soon. Indian cricket has to move forward and the performances of new players can't be ignored. As senior players, they are expected to score more in difficult situations. Ashwin is a tricky case because he has made a comeback in the white-ball format. But that has happened after the period under review. He was not played on the entire England tour but his performances in every game he has played have been outstanding," a BCCI source said.
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The report also mentioned that the BCCI is aiming to invest in the likes of Rahul, Pant, Siraj, and Shubman Gill. They are seen as the core of the team going forward. Rahul and Pant were considered for elevation to Grade A+ for their performances in England and Australia. They are the only players other than Kohli, Bumrah, and Rohit who are certainties in all three formats.
With Pant, it is being said that the maverick wicketkeeper-batter needs to bring in more consistency to his game. "Pant is seen as a future leader. By the looks of things, it may take a little more time for him to mature as a senior player," the source said.
Gill too could have got a promotion, but injuries pegged him back.
(Times of India inputs)
