Deepti Sharma, Rajeshwari Gayakwad set to bag Grade A central contracts

Two members from the Indian women’s cricket team are all set to go up the ladder in the central contracts for cricketers for the fresh season. Deepti Sharma and Rajeshwari Gayakwad will be receiving the promotion in the central contracts and will jump to Grade A category as decided by BCCI lately.

The 24-year-old Deepti has been a great all-round option for India in recent times whereas 30-year-old Gayakwad on the back of her great form has received the premier contract. It is to be noted that both these cricketers will be joining Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Poonam Yadav in the A grade contracts, who receive INR 50 lakh retainership annually.  On the other hand, Grade B and C contracted members are assured with INR 30 lakh and INR 10 lakh respectively.

During the Apex Meeting held on March 2, the BCCI has given a nod for 17 players to get the central contracts where Sneh Rana made to the list while bagging the Grade C contract and Pooja Vastrakar moving into the Grade B list. Vastrakar’s contribution has been great for India in recent times and she has added merit to it by taking up the role of finisher for the side after her comeback.

Here’s a look at the division of all three contracts

Experienced and senior cricketers Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami remain at the same place with Grade B contracts whereas Jemimah Rodrigues and Shikha Pandey have been demoted to the Grade C list from B. Both these cricketers have also been not been considered for the World Cup squad. Sneh Rana stands to be the new entrant in this list on account of her great performances in a row in recent times after making comeback in June last year.

Grade A (INR 50 lakh): Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Poonam Yadav, Deepti Sharma, Rajeshwari Gayakwad

Grade B (INR 30 lakh): Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami, Tanya Bhatia, Shafali Verma, Pooja Vastrakar

Grade C (INR 10 lakh): Poonam Raut, Shikha Pandey, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Harleen Deol, Arundhati Reddy, Sneh Rana