Hardik promoted in BCCI contracts

The star trio of India captain Virat Kohli, his white-ball deputy Rohit Sharma and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah retained their top bracket BCCI contracts, worth `7 crore each, while all-rounder Hardik Pandya earned a promotion despite an injuryplagued season.

A total of 28 cricketers were awarded central contracts in four categories on Thursday.

At this moment in Indian cricket, there are only three certainties across formats and the scenario hasn’t changed with Kohli, Rohit and Bumrah being the elite of elites.

All-rounder Pandya is one of the notable promotions to Grade A, which is worth `5 crore, despite the fact that he endured a back injury which has prevented him from bowling for much of the last year. He was in Grade B last year.

“Hardik is very much in line to play Test matches in England and will be one of the most important players after our A+ cricketers when we play the T20 World Cup. So Hardik’s promotion is about what he brings to the team. That’s what the selectors have factored in,” a senior BCCI official said on conditions of anonymity.

New Delhi, April 15:

Rookies Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj have got their maiden central contracts worth `1 crore in Grade C while Shardul Thakur has been elevated to group B. The trio has been rewarded for lionhearted performances during India’s historic Test triumph in Australia this year.

Among the demotions, pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has dropped to Grade B, which is worth `3 crore, while Kedar Jadhav has been dropped for good.