Mumbai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) may soon release the list of players with central contracts for the next season (2022-23). This time the fate of Ishant Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha, and Ajinkya Rahane seems to be in danger. These three players have not been in the Indian team for some time now and the BCCI is looking to sideline them completely.
At the same time, the buzz is that Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya can get promotions. The Board announces the Annual Central Contract (BCCI Central Contract) every year between January and April. This time this decision will be taken in the Board’s Apex Council meeting on 21 December.
Hardik Pandya is being considered the future captain of India in the T20 format. Last time he got a demotion in the grade list. He was directly degraded from Grade A to Grade C. There will be a discussion on the 12 agenda in the Apex Council meeting. This meeting will be through video conferencing. India’s performance in the ODI series against Bangladesh will not be part of the agenda. However, if BCCI President Roger Binny feels that the matter needs to be discussed, then it will be discussed.
In addition, in a novel gesture, the Apex Council will also ratify a one-time payment for V Jayadevan, whose rain-rule formula has been used in domestic white-ball cricket for over a decade. Internationally, the ICC uses the Duckworth-Lewis Stern method. Whereas, the VJD rule is used in Mushtaq Ali T20, Vijay Hazare Trophy, Deodhar Trophy, and Challenger Trophy.
Rahane, Ishant, and Wriddhiman, the former vice-captain of the Indian team, can be thrown out of the central contract. Saha was specifically told earlier this year that he would never be selected for the Indian team again. At the same time, Rahane and Ishant are also out of the team for a long time. Rahane played the last Test in January 2022 against South Africa. At the same time, Ishant played the last Test in November 2021 against New Zealand.
A senior BCCI official told that Suryakumar was in Grade C in the last contract, but this year he may get a lift because of his excellent performance. He may be promoted from Grade C to Grade B or maybe to Grade-A. Suryakumar is currently in the number one position in the ICC T20 rankings and it is certain to include him in the team in ODIs as well.