Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan have successfully regained their central contracts with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as part of the newly announced retainer list. The BCCI revealed this list on Monday, highlighting Iyer’s impressive performance during the Champions Trophy and Kishan’s return after a year-long absence from the contract circuit. Enjoying a promotion was wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, and boy has he evolved since last year.
In this year’s Champions Trophy, Shreyas Iyer emerged as India’s highest run-scorer, showcasing his prowess across formats. It is these contributions, more than his statistics, which see him make it into Grade B along with T20 ISL captain Suryakumar Yadav and three other players. What a phenomenal comeback by Ishan Kishan! Having missed out on last year’s contracts for opting out of domestic cricket, he is now one of a 19-player strong contingent given Grade C contracts.
The Impact of Domestic Performance
Their failures saw Iyer and Kishan face the ire of the BCCI last year. They drew condemnation for their decision to exclude themselves from the domestic game. Iyer offered a back injury as the reason for his absence. At the same time, the cricketing board was furious with Kishan for ducking out on his local matches. Combined with their failure to meet initial deadlines, this threw doubt on their willingness to sustain development of the sport. It is clear that their past goosebump-inducing performances have been instrumental in fuelling the BCCI’s decision to bring them back.
Along with the upgrades came a big and welcome upgrade for Rishabh Pant. The importance of his role is evident from his promotion within the contract system. He is a central figure in the national squad, especially in the Test and ODI formats. These proposed changes again show the BCCI’s apparent desire to reward reliable performance but keep a high bar for player participation.
Retainer Figures and Contract Grades
The BCCI has not released detailed retainer amounts when asked by Reuters. According to local media reports, Grade A+ players will be paid an astounding 70 million Indian rupees. Those in Grade A would receive 50 million. The players graded Grade B will be given 30 million and Grade C players will get 10 million. As reference, the exchange rate today is $1 = 85.1 Indian rupees.
Iyer and Kishan thus return to the fold. At the same time, a handful of the biggest names are still firmly entrenched in the top end of contract grades. Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma is setting the example, demonstrating exceptional leadership abilities. Meanwhile veteran batsman Virat Kohli, pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja made it into the A+ grade, underlining their importance to the national side.
Looking Ahead
As we have discussed here on Impact, the cricketing landscape is changing. The BCCI’s decision to bring back Iyer and Kishan shows a welcome willingness to look past failure and reward talent, stressing the value of domestic performances. The 2023 retainer list provides a helpful table for making future selections and contract discussions within Indian cricket.
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