Former India chief selector MSK Prasad wondered why all-format all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja didn’t feature in the A+ category in BCCI’s list of contracted Indian players announced on Thursday. CSK player is one of the world’s premier all-round cricketers, with a constantly improving game in the last 2-3 years.
BCCI featured three players the senior Indian men’s team for the year 2020-21 – Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah – in the A+ category. They receive an annual salary of INR 7 Crores from the board.
But despite being an all-format cricketer like Kohli, Rohit and Bumrah, Jadeja could only find himself slotted in the A category, where players receive an annual salary of INR 5 Crores from the BCCI.
The 32-year-old has featured in 51 Tests, 168 ODIs and 50 T20Is for India with over 4,000 runs and nearly 450 wickets at the international level.
Prasad, who has previously been involved in discussions around the contract lists due to his position as a chief selector, opined that Jadeja’s omission from the A+ category came as a massive surprise.
“Jadeja is a genuine A+ candidate. Those who play all formats and have good ICC rankings are included in the list. I cannot see any reason why he was not considered for A+ Grade,”
said MSK Prasad in a chat with Cricbuzz.
A reason for Jadeja’s exclusion from the A+ category could be the fact that he has been injured for the major part of the period for which the contract list is announced.
Jadeja’s thumb got hurt while trying to fend a bouncer from Australia’s left-arm quick Mitchell Starc during the New Year’s Test in Sydney of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year. Following this, the cricketer missed the next Test in Brisbane and the entire home series against England as he recuperated from the surgery for his severely damaged thumb.
Jadeja has only just recovered and restarted playing cricket via the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League, where he plays for three-time champions Chennai Super Kings.
“Both Jadeja and Pant could be at the top bracket soon”: MSK Prasad
For Prasad, not just Jadeja but all-format wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant should also be seen in the A+ category of players in the contract list soon.
Left out of the limited-overs leg of the Australian tour late last year due to question marks over his form and fitness, Pant made an inspiring comeback via the Test matches against Australia and later also the England series.
Carrying a new-found wave of confidence behind him, Pant was recently appointed the new Delhi Capitals captain for IPL 2021 in place of the franchise’s injured first-choice skipper Shreyas Iyer.
“I can see Pant in A+ soon. He is not regular now, but it will be difficult to ignore him for the grade. Both Jadeja and Pant could be at the top bracket soon,”
said Prasad.
In his young and flourishing career, Pant has played 20 Tests, 18 ODIs and 32 T20Is for the country and has made over 2,500 runs in the international arena besides being an ever-improving customer with the gloves.
Both Pant and Jadeja will be extremely crucial when Team India is next seen playing at the highest level this year. Virat Kohli’s men will be facing New Zealand in the World Test Championship final and also a five-match Test series against England in the UK this summer.
