The Board of Control for Cricket in India recently finalized the central contracts list for its cricketers for the 2021-22 International cricket season. The list saw a number of ups and downs for multiple cricketers. A total of 27 men’s cricketers were awarded a central contract this season.
The central contracts structure is as follows: A+, A, B, and C categories. The players are divided into these categories based on their performance in all formats of the game.
Let’s take a look at the salaries of the centrally contracted Indian cricketers:
1. Virat Kohli – INR 7 crores
Virat Kohli is one of the best all-format cricketers in India at the moment. He has led India to achieve several milestones over the last few years. Kohli was the third-highest run-scorer of the team in all the formats in 2021.
He is a senior member and an integral member of the Indian team. Kohli retained his spot in the A+ category and will earn INR 7 crores for the 2021-22 season.
2. Rohit Sharma – INR 7 crores
Rohit Sharma is the new all-format leader of the Indian team. Over the last few years, Rohit Sharma has proved his talent in all formats of the game. He was recently handed over the Test captaincy of India after Virat Kohli stepped down.
Rohit was the leading run-scorer for India across formats, in the year 2021. The Indian skipper is in the A+ category and will earn INR 7 crores.
3. Jasprit Bumrah – INR 7 crores
Jasprit Bumrah is the only bowler in the A+ category in the Central Contracts for 2021-22. He was recently announced as the Indian vice-captain for the Sri Lanka test series.
Bumrah has grown into a leader of the Indian bowling attack over the last few years. He has been retained in the A+ category.
4. KL Rahul – INR 5 crores
KL Rahul retained his spot in the A category. He will earn INR 5 crores for the 2021-22 season. KL Rahul performed well for Indian across formats last year.
He averaged 42.13 and slammed the hundreds in the year. The right-hander was also announced as the vice-captain of the Indian team in the limited-overs format.
5. Ravichandran Ashwin – INR 5 crores
Ravichandran Ashwin has had a good 2021 year for India. He bagged 63 wickets in the year, at an average of 15.93, with three five-wicket hauls.
Ashwin also slammed a hundred, adding valuable runs with the bat for India. He was retained in the A category by the BCCI and will earn 5 crores.
6. Ravindra Jadeja – INR 5 crores
Ravindra Jadeja has been in spectacular form for India in the last few years. He has contributed to the team’s cause in all the departments.
Jadeja took 23 wickets last year at an average of 25.08. He also slammed 300 plus runs for India across formats. This year, Jadeja averages more than 100 with the bat. He will earn 5 crores for the 2021-22 season.
7. Rishabh Pant – INR 5 crores
Rishabh Pant is the leading wicket-keeper batter in India currently. He averaged nearly 40 with the bat for India in 2021 scoring 1116 runs, including one century and seven half-centuries.
He has continued his good run, so far in 2022. Pant will get 5 crores, as he is A category according to the central contracts list.
8. Mohammed Shami – INR 5 crores
Mohammed Shami is in the A category in the central contracts list. He will earn 5 crores as per the contracts, in the 2021-22 season.
The pacer performed well last wicket, as he took 29 wickets in 10 matches for India, at an average of 22.65, including a five-wicket haul.
9. Ajinkya Rahane – INR 3 crores
Ajinkya Rahane faced demotion in the BCCI’s central contract list for the 2021-22 season. He is placed in the B category and will earn 3 crores. The right-hander averaged just 20.82 with the bat for India in 2021.
He was replaced as the vice-captain of the Indian test team during India’s tour of South Africa. Following his average performance on the tour, Rahane was dropped from the Indian Test team.
10. Ishant Sharma – INR 3 crores
Like Ajinkya Rahane, Ishant Sharma too faced demotion in the BCCI’s central contracts for the 2021-22 season. The Indian pacer was dropped from the Indian team for the India vs Sri Lanka Test series.
Ishant Sharma took 14 wickets in 8 test matches for India in 2021. He will now earn 3 crores for the 2021-22 season.
11. Cheteshwar Pujara – INR 3 crores
Cheteshwar Pujara struggled to make much of an impact, playing for the Indian team in the 2021 year. He averaged 28.08 in 14 test matches in the 2021 season.
Pujara too was dropped from the Indian team for the Sri Lanka Test series. He has been demoted to the B category in the BCCI central contracts.
12. Shardul Thakur – INR 3 crores
Shardul Thakur has showcased his all-round potential to the world in the last couple of years. He performed brilliantly for India in 2021, taking 31 wickets in 14 matches.
Shardul also made valuable contributions with the bat for India. He played a key role in India’s 2021 historic win in Australia. Shardul has retained his spot in the central contracts.
13. Mohammed Siraj – INR 3 crores
The last couple of years has seen the rise of Mohammed Siraj at the International level. He has earned a promotion in the Central contracts and now will earn 3 crores for the 2021-22 season.
Siraj took 32 wickets last year in 11 matches, at an average of 30.25 in 2021.
14. Axar Patel – INR 3 crores
Axar Patel has taken giant strides in a small test career for India so far. He has picked up 37 wickets in 6 matches, at an average of 12.10. The all-rounder has spun a web around the batter to deceive them in Indian conditions.
Axar has 5 five-wicket hauls and a 10-wicket haul to his name in six tests. He will earn 3 crores as per the central contracts list.
15. Shreyas Iyer – INR 3 crores
Shreyas Iyer has so far grabbed the limited opportunities he has got for India with both hands. He scored 359 runs last year for India, including a century.
This year, he averages around 69 across formats. The right-hander was promoted to the B category, following his consistent performances for India.
16. Shikhar Dhawan – INR 1 crore
Opening batter Shikhar Dhawan was demoted to the C category in the central contracts by the BCCI. Dhawan only represents India in the ODI format and is not in the scheme of things in other formats.
He scored 387 runs last year, at an average of 43, including three fifties.
17. Umesh Yadav – INR 1 crore
Umesh Yadav was demoted from the B to C category in the BCCI’s central contract list for 2021-22. He has not been a part of the Indian playing XI on a consistent basis.
Last year, he played just three matches for India, taking eight wickets, at an average of 30.75.
18. Hardik Pandya – INR 1 crore
Hardik Pandya will earn 1 crore for the 2021-22 International cricket season. The all-rounder’s career has been hampered by injuries.
His inability to bowl consistently due to injury has cost him a place in India’s Test squad. He played 17 matches for India last year, averaging around 25 with the bat, and has picked six wickets.
19. Shubman Gill – INR 1 crore
Shubman Gill retained his spot in the C category and will earn 1 crore. He has performed decently well but has not been able to make a greater impact.
Gill has played three ODIs and 10 Tests for India so far in his career, averaging 16 and 32 respectively.
20. Suryakumar Yadav – INR 1 crore
Suryakumar Yadav was included in India’s centrally contracted players list for the first time. He is placed in the C category and will earn 1 crore.
In a short international career so far, Suryakumar Yadav has performed impressively well. He averages around 53 in ODIs and 39 in T20Is for India.
21. Hanuma Vihari – INR 1 crore
Hanuma Vihari has not got consistent opportunities for India at the International level. However, he has made an impact in the limited chances.
Vihari averages 35 in 15 test matches, scoring over 800 runs including a century. He retained his spot in the C category of centrally contracted players.
22. Mayank Agarwal – INR 1 crore
Mayank Agarwal performed well for India in 2021 in test matches. He averaged nearly 45, scoring 353 runs in 4 games, including a century.
The opener was retained by the board in the C category and will earn 1 crore for the 2021-22 season.
23. Wriddhiman Saha – INR 1 crore
Wriddhiman Saha has limited opportunities for India as a wicket-keeper batsman due to the rise of Rishabh Pant. Saha was recently informed that he won’t be considered by the team for the future, as they are looking to groom young keepers.
Saha has an average of 30 in test matches and has over 100 dismissals to his name in the format.
24. Bhuvneshwar Kumar – INR 1 crore
Due to frequent injuries, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has not played consistently for India over the last few years. He played 17 matches last year, taking 21 wickets at an average of 24.71.
The Indian pacer was retained in the C category by the BCCI selectors.
25. Deepak Chahar – INR 1 crore
Deepak Chahar has proved to be a valuable all-round addition to the Indian team. He has played match-winning knocks for the team with the bat.
He averages nearly 60 in ODIs for India with the bat. In the two ODI matches played by him in the 2021 year, Deepak picked four wickets for India.
26. Washington Sundar – INR 1 crore
Washington Sundar’s International career is still in its early phase. He has picked 36 wickets in 39 matches for India, at an average of 33.02.
With the bat, Sundar has made valuable contributions lower down the order. He has 369 runs, at an average of 28.38, with 96 not out being his highest score.
27. Yuzvendra Chahal – INR 1 crore
Yuzvendra Chahal has seen quite a few ups and downs in his career so far. He is India’s leading wicket-taker in the T20Is. However, his performance last year was not up to the mark.
Chahal picked five wickets in as many T20Is and conceded runs at an economy rate of over 8. In ODIs, he picked five wickets in two matches. The spinner was retained in the C category and will earn 1 crore.
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