Reports | Cheteshwar Pujara may be upgraded to the top pay bracket by BCCI

Cheteshwar Pujara missed out on a double century today getting out on a well made 193 runs in the final match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. But his consistent performance in Australia right from the first match of the series has not gone unnoticed and he is likely to be rewarded for his efforts.

“Pujara’s brilliant performance deserves recognition. The CoA chief will discuss with the team management and the chief selector to check if the rule for all-format specialists in the top bracket can be relaxed,” said a senior BCCI official, reported PTI. 

Pujara has scored 521 runs in seven innings in Australia so far, with three centuries at an impressive average of 74.42. As per the  Board of Control for Cricket in India(BCCI) rules the players are graded in various categories and have a yearly central contract. 

A-plus category players get Rs 7 crore per year, while those in the A category, to which Pujara currently belongs, get Rs 5 crore. The players in B and C categories get Rs 3 crores and Rs 1 crore respectively.

“Pujara’s elevation to the top bracket could well be a message for youngsters that performance in Test cricket will be given top priority,” the official added.

A one format specialist Cheteshwar Pujara is not favoured by the Indian Premier League(IPL) franchises. Even in the recently held IPL auctions, no team showed an interest in the right-hander