Former Indian skipper MS Dhoni has retired from Test cricket but is a regular member of India’s ODI and T20I squad, as he remains a vital cog in the team’s limited-overs challenges. While there were rumours of Dhoni being relegated from the top category of BCCI’s revised pay-scale, the board proved them true as the new salary structure of Indian cricketers was made public on Wednesday. The Ranchi-born wicket-keeper batsman was in fact placed in Group A, behind A+, as the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah emerged as the top earners. A BCCI official, however, has now revealed what exactly is the reason behind Dhoni’s demotion.
The official addressed the questions of Dhoni’s placement in Group A, saying, “Its a simple logic that selectors have applied. Play more and get paid more. The five in question are indispensable in all three formats right now. They deserved to be paid more. Also Ravi Shastri, Kohli and Dhoni have been taken into confidence,” he was quoted as saying.
Explaining the logic behind the selection of players’ in Group A, the official added, “The second group comprises players who are certainties in at least one format like Saha and Pujara. They are in second group because of their dependability in at least one format,” he said.
While Dhoni is clearly the biggest name not rubbing shoulders with the players in Group A+, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are the other two stars to see themselves placed in the second category. Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane and Wridhhiman Saha are some of the others in the same categorisation.
Putting light on the matter, the official added: “Dhoni has retired and Ashwin, Jadeja are no longer automatic selections in limited overs. They are as of now not in WC scheme. So in second category.”
