Cricket

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has released its annual player retainership list for the 2023-24 season, with notable exclusions and additions.Exclusions:Out-of-favor duo Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer have been dropped from the list. The BCCI cited their absence from Ranji Trophy matches as a reason for their exclusion. Both players were previously in Grade B and C, respectively, and will now lose access to NCA facilities and BCCI insurance.Notable Gainers:KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Mohammed Siraj have been promoted to Grade A, earning Rs 5 crore annually. Kuldeep Yadav has moved up to Grade B, earning Rs 3 crore.New Additions:The BCCI has added 11 new players to the central contracts list, including Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi, Jitesh Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, and Rajat Patidar. These players will earn Rs 1 crore each.Fast Bowling Contracts:In a historic move, the BCCI has recommended five players for fast bowling contracts: Akash Deep, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Umran Malik, Yash Dayal, and Vidwath Kaverappa.Retained Players:India captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah have been retained in the Grade A+ bracket, earning Rs 7 crore each.Impact:The exclusion of Kishan and Iyer has sparked discussions, while the promotions and additions have been welcomed. The new central contracts will provide financial support and access to resources for the selected players.

The debate over club versus country has resurfaced in Indian cricket, with former swing bowler Praveen Kumar expressing his concerns about players prioritizing the Indian Premier League (IPL) over international and domestic cricket.Kumar believes that players should prioritize playing for India and their state teams over the IPL. He cited the recent controversy involving Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan, who were excluded from the BCCI's latest list of contracts for failing to make themselves available for the Ranji Trophy."Players need to set their priorities right," Kumar said. "Earning money is important, but it shouldn't come at the expense of playing for the country or domestic cricket."Kumar acknowledged the benefits of the IPL, which has provided a platform for young players to develop and share the field with experienced players from around the world. However, he emphasized that players should strike a balance between franchise cricket and national and domestic commitments."Money is important, but this (giving franchise cricket the priority) is wrong," Kumar said.Kumar also praised the current Indian pace attack, particularly Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, and Mukesh Kumar. He believes that these bowlers have the potential to excel at the international level.Regarding Rohit Sharma's captaincy, Kumar expressed confidence in his leadership abilities. He believes that Sharma's experience and maturity will guide the Indian team effectively."Rohit is a fantastic skipper," Kumar said. "He knows his role well and leads the side really well."

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra believes that the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) presents a golden opportunity for Ishan Kishan to reignite his career after being omitted from the BCCI's central contract list for 2023-2024.Kishan, 25, has been absent from the domestic circuit, citing personal reasons, despite not being on national duty since the tour of South Africa in December 2022. Chopra believes that this absence has fueled Kishan's hunger to prove himself."Ishan Kishan will be hungry, as he has not got a central contract. This is the only thing he is playing. What else is he playing?" Chopra said in a YouTube video.Chopra also highlighted Kishan's absence from the recent Test series against England, emphasizing that the IPL provides him with a platform to showcase his abilities and potentially earn a recall to the national team."Either he has himself opted not to play, or he won't be selected now. So this is his chance. If you make the IPL your own, you have chances of going forward. Then there is, of course, Wankhede's flat pitch. The ball will come nicely onto the bat and go far," Chopra added.The BCCI's decision to exclude Kishan from the central contract list has raised questions about his future prospects. However, Chopra believes that the IPL can serve as a catalyst for Kishan's resurgence."This is a big opportunity for Ishan Kishan. He has to make the most of it. He has to score runs, win matches, and show that he is still a force to be reckoned with," Chopra concluded.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) decision to drop Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan from its central contract list has sparked a global debate. While some have criticized the board for its harsh action, others have supported its stance.Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal has backed the BCCI, stating that such a move was necessary to punish the players for ignoring the board's orders. Akmal believes that by dropping Kishan and Iyer, the BCCI has demonstrated its "good management.""If you don't value the cricket because of which you made it to the national team, what message is it going to give to all the youngsters?" Akmal said on his YouTube channel. "BCCI has made the right call, taking such strict action early on to control the damage."Akmal added that the BCCI's decision sends a clear message to players that they cannot play on their own terms. "Nobody is bigger than the game," he said.Kishan and Iyer were reportedly reluctant to play in national-level domestic tournaments, which is believed to be the reason for their exclusion. Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly, who is also a former BCCI president, has urged the board to speak to Kishan about his decision."All this while he has played Ranji and then played white-ball cricket. Has it made him a poorer player? It hasn't," Ganguly said. "All the players picked in Delhi Capitals have played Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Ranji Trophy."Ganguly's comments suggest that the BCCI may be willing to reconsider its decision if Kishan and Iyer show a willingness to play in domestic tournaments. However, it remains to be seen whether the players will change their stance.

BCCI's Contract Termination for Domestic Neglect: A Step to Protect First-Class CricketLegendary Indian cricketer Kapil Dev has lauded the BCCI's decision to terminate central contracts for players who prioritize international cricket over domestic commitments. This move, he believes, is crucial to safeguard marquee first-class events like the Ranji Trophy.The BCCI recently excluded Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer from its central contracts after they ignored the board's directive to participate in the Ranji Trophy. The decision sparked mixed reactions, with some former players supporting the duo. However, Kapil Dev has unequivocally backed the BCCI's stance."Yes, a few players will suffer, but let it be," said Kapil. "Nobody is bigger than the country. Well done."He emphasized the importance of domestic cricket in nurturing and developing players. "I was sad to see domestic cricket being given the skip by players once they had established themselves in international cricket," he observed.The BCCI's decision is intended to send a strong message that domestic competitions must be given due importance. Kishan, despite not being on national duty, chose to focus on IPL preparations instead of playing for Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy. Iyer, on the other hand, made himself unavailable for Mumbai's Ranji quarterfinal after being dropped from the Indian team.Kapil believes that established stars have a duty to support domestic cricket, as they owe their success to their respective states. "International players should make themselves available to play for their states," he said. "It helps them extend their support to domestic players and pay back for the services rendered by the state association."The BCCI's move has also been welcomed by former cricketers who have benefited from the enhanced pension scheme. Kapil expressed his gratitude for the increase in monthly pensions, which has provided much-needed relief to families of yesteryear players.

Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan, two prominent Indian cricketers, have been excluded from the latest BCCI contracts, sparking speculation and debate. The duo's omission has been interpreted as a stern message from the cricket governing body to players who prioritize franchise cricket over domestic commitments.Ishan Kishan, who took a break from India's tour of South Africa, has been practicing in Baroda instead of representing his state Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy. Shreyas Iyer, on the other hand, claimed an injury prevented him from playing for Mumbai in the same tournament. However, reports suggest that the NCA's assessment contradicts Iyer's claim.The BCCI's decision to exclude Iyer and Kishan from the annual contract list has raised eyebrows. "Please note that Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan were not considered for the annual contracts in this round of recommendations," the BCCI stated in a release.The BCCI has emphasized the importance of domestic cricket for players who are not representing the national team. "The BCCI has recommended that all athletes give precedence to participating in domestic cricket during periods when they are not representing the national team," the release added.Despite their exclusion, there is still a possibility that Iyer and Kishan could earn BCCI contracts in the future. "The selectors don't doubt their ability," a BCCI official told ESPNcricinfo. "But if the NCA is saying you are fit and you are not making yourself available for the Test series, how can the BCCI offer you a contract?"The BCCI release outlines the criteria for pro-rata contracts: "Athletes who meet the criteria of playing a minimum of 3 Tests or 8 ODIs or 10 T20Is within the specified period will automatically be included in Grade C on a pro-rata basis." The specified period is from October 1st, 2023 to September 30th, 2024.The exclusion of Iyer and Kishan serves as a reminder of the BCCI's commitment to domestic cricket and its expectation that players prioritize it over franchise commitments. The duo's future with the national team remains uncertain, but they have an opportunity to earn contracts by fulfilling the criteria outlined by the BCCI.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced its new central contracts, sparking debate over the inclusion of Hardik Pandya and the exclusion of Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer. Former India opener Aakash Chopra has defended the BCCI's decision, arguing that Pandya's case is distinct from that of Kishan and Iyer.Pandya, who has not played international cricket since the ODI World Cup 2023 due to an ankle injury, was awarded a Grade A contract. Kishan and Iyer, on the other hand, were not included in the list for not participating in domestic cricket.Chopra emphasized that Pandya cannot be penalized for not playing first-class cricket because he is not vying for a spot in India's Test squad. "He is not playing red-ball cricket. That ambition or aspiration does not exist anymore," Chopra said.Chopra also highlighted Pandya's unavailability from both domestic and international cricket, explaining that he never missed a game like Kishan and Iyer. "He got injured during the World Cup, that was October-November," Chopra explained. "He was playing in the World Cup for India at that time."Pandya recently returned to competitive cricket at the DY Patil T20 Cup, leading the Reliance 1 team. He picked up 2 for 22 against Bharat Petroleum.Chopra's analysis suggests that the BCCI's decision to award Pandya a central contract is justified, given his unique circumstances and his continued value to the Indian team.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has recently implemented a new rule mandating all centrally contracted cricketers, who are not with the national team, to participate in red-ball cricket in the domestic circuit. This decision was made to address the growing concern of players missing domestic cricket, which is seen as crucial for their development and match fitness.BCCI Secretary Jay Shah emphasized the importance of domestic cricket for players' overall growth and stated that no excuses would be tolerated in this matter. He mentioned that all contracted players have been informed about this rule and that they must adhere to it. Shah also clarified that this rule is not specifically targeted at any particular player, such as Ishan Kishan, who was recently in the news for reportedly being asked by the BCCI to play for Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy.In the midst of this controversy, reports emerged that Shreyas Iyer had made himself unavailable for Mumbai's Ranji Trophy quarterfinals citing injury concerns. However, the National Cricket Academy (NCA) has confirmed that Iyer has no 'fresh injuries' and was fit to play. This has raised questions about the validity of Iyer's injury claims and whether he is genuinely injured or simply avoiding domestic cricket.Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan took to social media to express his concern about the different rules seemingly being applied to different players regarding their participation in domestic cricket. He questioned why some players are allowed to skip domestic matches under the pretext of looking after their bodies while others are expected to play.The BCCI's decision to enforce mandatory participation in domestic cricket is a significant step towards ensuring that players are adequately prepared for international cricket. Domestic cricket provides players with the opportunity to gain valuable experience, improve their skills, and build their match fitness. By mandating their participation, the BCCI aims to raise the overall standard of Indian cricket and produce players who are ready to compete at the highest level.