The writing was on the wall and it's finally happening. Veteran India batters Cheteshwar Pujara and former Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane have been demoted in BCCI's latest list of central contracts.
Pujara and Rahane were demoted from the A category, which has an annual remuneration of ₹7 crore, to the B category which is valued at ₹3 crore per annum. Pacer Ishant Sharma also had a similar fate.
The biggest demotion, however, was of Hardik Pandya, who found himself down from A to the C category. The all-rounder's career has been hampered by injuries that saw him lose his place in the Indian squad.
Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah though continue to be in the A+ category.
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