The contract for the Indian players was announced a few weeks ago. This will be for a period of one year starting from October 2021 which runs through till September 2022. The contract as usual is split into 4 categories with A+, A, B & C. The retainer will vary according to the grade in which a particular player is placed. Let me analyse the contracts of the Indian team.
The retainer fees will be 7 CR A+, 5 CR for A, 3 CR for B & 1 CR for C. When the longevity of the players is taken into consideration, the retainer fees is perfectly alright. Let us also remember that this is in addition to the regular match fees, allowances etc that every player will receive for the games in which they are part of. A sportsperson’s shelf life is extremely short.
The best performer cannot hope to be part of the team for more than 15 years except in some rare cases. As such, every player is under tremendous pressure to make the most of his or her playing career. It is precisely because of this fact that the earnings of a player must not be judged because the stories about aspirants not making to the international team or even to the state team and thereby losing their way are far too many.
Why is the coach paid more than the players?
Having said that, I do believe that the retainer fees must merit some form of accountability. In other words, the players who are slotted into different categories must have earned that rather than just given to them on a platter. The starting category of 7 CR for A+ must be higher. If what I understand is correct, the coach of the Indian team is paid more than the highest earner amongst the players. It is 8 CR. That is an enormous amount for a coach who himself is not involved in the thick of things. He motivates, inspires, plans etc behind the scene and for that the coach does deserve his fair share of payment. However, it is the players who are actually doing their work. Hence, they must be paid more than the coach. I do not mean all the players but only the top players.
There must be a new higher grade
I would like to see the retainer fees for A+ must be increased to 10 CR. However, it must be paid only to the most deserving of the players. Currently, Rohit Sharma, Kohli and Bumrah are in the A+ category. If the rules are to be understood, this payment is for their performance last year. As we all know, Kohli has been struggling for the last 3 years. Ofcourse, he has done enough in his career to be considered a permanent A+ grader but that will dilute the whole structure. If needed, one more category, A++ must be created and only the truly deserving players must be part of that category and for a period of one year only. If their performance dips, they must be immediately brought down to A+ or other category depending upon their performance.
Just a cursory look at the players in A+ contract will reveal that except for Rohit Sharma, the other two, Kohli and Bumrah does not really deserve to be in that category. Bumrah for all his potential and for all his guile is still not someone on whom you can depend to run through sides consistently. I meant the top teams like Australia, New Zealand, South Africa or England. In close to 30 tests, he is yet to take a 10-wicket haul. This despite the fact that he has played more than 80% of the games outside of India and in favourable bowling conditions. He sure does deserve to be in A but A+ he certainly is not.
Kohli must be downgraded to a lower grade
Kohli for all his brilliance over the first half of his career, hasn’t managed consistent returns in the last 3 years. The other two, Pujara and Rahane, alongwith whom Kohli remained inconsistent are out of the squad itself. Kohli does not deserve a similar predicament but he cannot be in the A+ category. Moreover, in a long captaincy stint, he didn’t win a single ICC tournament nor did he win the meaningful series except for the one against Australia in 2018. If he needs to be there, another higher category, as discussed above, must be created and only the truly deserving must be part of that.
Rohit is the only one
In the current team, Rohit is the only one who can merit. He played stellar role in England because of which India is currently leading in that series. He also played a couple of incredible knocks against England in India on extremely difficult pitches. His absence was the sole reason India lost in South Africa. He has had a good start to his captaincy career. Having said that, if his performance dips, he must immediately be brought down to a lower grade.
Shardul Thakur deserves better
I think Shardul Thakur, who was instrumental in India winning a couple of tests in Australia and England deserve to be in grade A.
The BCCI has only contracted 27 players. This is too less of a pool. There must be atleast 50-60 players. If needed, categories can be extended upto E & F. The top 60 cricketers of the country must concentrate solely on playing the game and being ready whenever called for. The financial aspect must be taken care of by the board by having additional grades. BCCI with its resources, can easily afford that.
Conclusion to the contracts of the Indian team
An absolute elite grade must be introduced that must only include players who have performed well during the previous year. It not only signifies that the said player was the runaway best but someone whom the entire team can hope to emulate. It may just be the catalysed that will proper others to attain the same level.