11 Indian cricketers who received maiden BCCI central contracts for 2023-24

A total of 11 Indian cricketers received maiden BCCI central contracts including Yashasvi Jaiswal.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), on February 28, 2024, announced the list of 30 players to have received the central contracts for 2023-24 season. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja retained their A+ category contracts.

KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Mohammed Siraj have been elevated from Grade B to Grade A, while Kuldeep Yadav has also been promoted from Grade C to B. On the other hand, Rishabh Pant was demoted from Grade A to Grade B owing to his absence from the game and Axar Patel moved from Grade B to C.

However, seven cricketers lost their central contracts – Cheteshwar Pujara, Umesh Yadav, Shikhar Dhawan, Deepak Hooda, and Yuzvendra Chahal. However, there were 11 first-time entrants in the BCCI central contract list.

Here are the 11 Indian cricketers who got maiden BCCI central contracts for 2023-24 season:

1. Yashasvi Jaiswal:

Yashasvi Jaiswal made his India debut in tests and T20Is in 2023. He made his test debut memorable with 171 against West Indies. Till now, he has played 8 tests, scoring 971 runs with 3 centuries and 3 fifties with two double tons and the highest score of 214. In 17 T20Is, he has 502 runs with one ton and 4 fifties with the best score of 100. Jaiswal has been handed Grade B contract, in which, he will earn 3 crores per year and match fees.

2. Rinku Singh:

Rinku Singh made his much-awaited India T20I debut in Ireland last year and since then has carved his space in the India XI as a finisher. He has played 15 T20Is for India, scoring 356 runs at a strike rate of 176.23 and two fifties to his name. He has also hit 20 sixes and 31 fours in his career. Rinku also played 2 ODIs, scoring 55 runs. He will be an important cog in India’s plans for T20 World Cup 2024. Rinku has been handed Grade C contract, in which, he will earn 1 crore + match fees.

3. N Tilak Varma:

Namboori Thakur Tilak Varma, or Tilak Varma, first came into the limelight for his brilliance in India’s U19 World Cup 2020 triumph. He was then bought by Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2022 auction and in two seasons he has 740 runs with three fifties at a strike rate of 144.53. He then made his T20I debut in the West Indies and ODI debut in the Asia Cup in 2023. He has since then scored 336 T20I runs with two fifties in 16 games and 68 runs in four ODIs with the best score of 52. Tilak has been handed Grade C contract, in which, he will earn 1 crore + match fees.

4. Ruturaj Gaikwad:

Ruturaj Gaikwad has been one of the most talented finds in the Indian team. He came through the domestic system and made his name for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. He is touted as the next captain of the Indian team and even led India to Asian Games gold in China last year. He has so far scored 115 runs in 6 ODIs and 500 runs in 19 T20Is for India with one century and 3 fifties in the shortest format. Gaikwad has been handed Grade C contract, in which, he will earn 1 crore + match fees.

5. Shivam Dube:

Shivam Dube has seen a resurgence in his career since playing for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He has turned out to be the finisher India needed and a potential backup for Hardik Pandya as well in T20Is. He has so far scored 276 runs in 21 T20Is picked eight wickets for India and had a Player of the Series performance against Afghanistan in T20Is at home. Dube has been handed Grade C contract, in which, he will earn 1 crore + match fees.

6. Ravi Bishnoi:

Ravi Bishnoi had become the No. 1 ranked T20I bowler for a few days recently and has done well in the format. His brilliant bowling, even with the new ball has pushed Yuzvendra Chahal out of contention as well. In 24 T20Is, Bishnoi has taken 36 wickets with 4/16 as his best figures and economy of 7.50. Bishnoi has played in the West Indies recently and a good outing in the IPL 2024 can help him cement his spot in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad. Bishnoi has been handed Grade C contract, in which, he will earn 1 crore + match fees.

7. Mukesh Kumar:

Mukesh Kumar burst onto the scene with decent performances in domestic cricket for Bengal and made his India debut in all three formats on West Indies tour last year. He has become a viable third pacer in the Indian team behind Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. He has 24 wickets in international cricket for India. Mukesh has been handed Grade C contract, in which, he will earn 1 crore + match fees.

8. Prasidh Krishna:

Prasidh Krishna has been groomed as the next big thing in Indian cricket in the fast bowling department. Krishna made his India debut in 2021 against England and became the first Indian pacer to take four wickets on ODI debut. Till now he has played two tests, 17 ODIs, and five T20Is, taking 39 wickets in all. However, his career has been hampered by injuries but once fit and in rhythm, Krishna is a very good bowler. Prasidh has been handed Grade C contract, in which, he will earn 1 crore + match fees.

9. Avesh Khan:

Avesh Khan is another fast bowler in whom the Indian team has been investing a lot. He has played 20 T20Is and eight ODIs for India and has a total of 28 wickets to his name. While he has been extremely good in ODIs but is troubled by economic issues in T20Is. However, he has the experience and the qualities that the Indian team management is looking for and hence he received a central contract. Avesh has been handed Grade C contract, in which, he will earn 1 crore + match fees.

10. Rajat Patidar:

Rajat Patidar came into the limelight thanks to his amazing knock for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL 2022. In addition to that, he has an enviable domestic record also. He has 4063 runs in 58 FC matches and 1985 runs in 58 List-A games. His exploits in IPL and domestic cricket got him his India debut in ODIs against South Africa recently. However, his outing in tests has not been that good with 63 runs in four matches. Patidar has been handed Grade C contract, in which, he will earn 1 crore + match fees.

11. Jitesh Sharma:

Jitesh Sharma has been the keeper-batter solution in T20Is that India have been looking for for a long time. Jitesh adapted his game for the role of a finisher for his IPL franchise Punjab Kings (PBKS). His ability to hit sixes and fours right from the start meant that he became the go-to guy for the Indian team in the shortest format.

He has so far played nine T20Is scoring 100 runs at a strike rate of 147.05. His cameos have helped India a lot in recent few matches and he is a safe wicket-keeper as well. Jitesh has been handed Grade C contract, in which, he will earn 1 crore + match fees.

(All stats mentioned in the story updated till 28th February, 2024)

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