Ajinkya Rahane and Ishant Sharma likely to lose their Indian Cricket Board central contracts - Reports

The Indian Cricket Board is likely to remove Test specialists Ajinkya Rahane and Ishant Sharma from its annual central contracts. Youngster Shubman Gill and star batter Suryakumar Yadav may get a promotion when the list for the 2022-23 season is finalised during the Board’s Apex Council meeting on December 21.

Hardik Pandya, who is being seen as the future T20 captain, is also expected to get a promotion to Group B from C. The meeting will be held via video conference and has 12 items on the agenda

A review of India’s performance in the 20-20 World Cup and Bangladesh one-dayers is not part of the agenda but can be considered for discussion if the chairperson deems it necessary.

One of the major items on the agenda is the “Retainership Contract” of senior men and women cricketers. It is understood that former vice-captain Rahane and speedster Ishant, who are out of India contention, will be removed from the fresh list.

Wicketkeeper batter Wriddhiman Saha will also be shown the door as he was specifically told at the start of the year that he won’t be selected for India again.

An A+ contract offers Rs. 7 crores, Group A Rs. 5 crore, Group B Rs 3 crore and Group C offers Rs. 1 to the cricketers. There are multiple metrics used by the Indian Cricket Board in consultation with national selectors to determine the gradation system.

A+ and A are two categories where the players are either all-format regulars or at least certainty in Tests along with one of the two white-ball formats. To be in Group B, a cricketer has to play at least two formats while group C is primarily for single-format players.

Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav to get promotions

Also, one needs to play a specific number of international games (per format) for inclusion in the list. The promotion however is performance-based and Apex Cricket Body rankings are also taken into consideration.

“Surya was in Group C but his performance in the last one year warrants a promotion to Group B at least, if not A. He is currently world No. 1 in T20I Apex Cricket Body rankings and is a serious contender in the ODI team also,” a senior official was quoted as saying by PTI.

Someone like Ishan Kishan who has played a considerable number of international games across two formats in 2022, is likely to enter the list. Pandya, who has now led the national team in two T20I away series, might get included in group B for his consistent performances. He was demoted to Group C last year after missing a major part of last season due to a back injury.