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Big Names Could Be Dropped; BCCI Set To Finalise Central Contracts On Sunday

Jatin

BCCI Central Contracts set for big call on Sunday [Source: @vaibhav_hatwal/x.com]BCCI Central Contracts set for big call on Sunday [Source: @vaibhav_hatwal/x.com]

The wait has been long, the whispers have grown louder and now it looks like the cat is finally about to come out of the bag. The BCCI central contracts for Team India are all set to be decided this Sunday with the bigwigs of Indian cricket coming together for a crucial sit-down.

According to the grapevine, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia is going to catch up with head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar on the sidelines of the CSK vs RR match in Chennai on March 30. This meet-up could be the final lap before contracts are inked and sealed.

Why The Delay In BCCI Central Contracts This Time?

Usually, the central contracts are done and dusted before the IPL kicks off. But this year, the process has taken longer. Word is, the BCCI wanted to wait for the Champions Trophy to get over before locking in names.

Plus, Gambhir’s unavailability for earlier discussions didn’t help the cause. But now, with him back in the loop, it looks like the contracts will finally see the light of day.

BCCI & Team Management Not On The Same Page?

Here’s where things get spicy. As per Dainik Jagaran, the board and the team management aren’t completely seeing eye to eye on the contracts. 

In fact, a senior BCCI insider’s “right-hand man” has already done the rounds over the phone with both Agarkar and the team management trying to get a feel for the situation. This Sunday’s meeting could be the deal-breaker or the ice-breaker, depending on which side bends first.


Reports suggest that Gautam Gambhir is likely to downsize the support staff. One big name in the firing line? Fielding coach T Dilip, who’s been part of the Indian setup for over four years. Word is, he might be shown the door.

However, the new brigade: Gambhir himself, Morne Morkel, Ryan ten Doeschate, and Abhishek Nayar are expected to stay on. BCCI might bring in some fresh faces to rejig the backroom setup, possibly giving the coaching group a younger, sharper look.

Quick look At Current Central Contracts (2023/24)

  • Grade A+ (4 Players): Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja
  • Grade A (6 Players): Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya
  • Grade B (5 Players): Surya Kumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Yashasvi Jaiswal
  • Grade C (15 Players): Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shardul Thakur, Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi, Jitesh Sharma, Washington Sundar, Mukesh Kumar, Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh, KS Bharat, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, Rajat Patidar

Sunday’s meeting could blow the final whistle on all speculation. With IPL in full swing and the Indian team entering a new era under Gambhir, the central contracts could reflect a fresh vision and newer priorities. Expect a few surprises, a few names dropping out and maybe even a reshuffle in grades.