Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma has lauded the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for its decision to introduce an incentive program aimed at promoting Test cricket participation. Taking to his official social media account, Rohit Sharma expressed his support for the initiative, emphasizing the significance of prioritizing Test cricket.
In a post on his official X profile, formerly known as Twitter, following India's convincing series win against England, Rohit Sharma backed the BCCI's move to incentivize participation in the red-ball format. He wrote, “Test cricket was & will be the ultimate format and it’s great to see @BCCI & @JayShah leading the way in prioritizing Test cricket.”
The BCCI's Secretary, Jay Shah, unveiled the financial commitment from the board following India's convincing series win against England. Under the newly introduced scheme, players participating in 75 percent or more of the scheduled red-ball matches in a season stand to receive ₹45 lakh per game as an incentive. This move aims to bolster the financial rewards for players engaging in bilateral Test series, marking a significant step towards promoting Test cricket.
Shah highlighted the importance of Test cricket, noting that the total outflow for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons is estimated to be around ₹45 crore. He emphasized that while the Indian Premier League (IPL) remains crucial, bilateral Test cricket holds equal importance.
Echoing similar sentiments, Team India's head coach, Rahul Dravid, welcomed the initiative, describing it as a recognition of the challenges associated with the longest format of the game. Dravid stressed that while financial incentives are important, they should not overshadow the intrinsic value of Test cricket. He applauded the BCCI for acknowledging the rigorous nature of the format and providing a reward for players' commitment.
The decision to introduce the Test Cricket Incentive Scheme comes in the wake of certain players being excluded from BCCI's central contracts due to their absence from the Ranji Trophy, despite the board's directive to prioritize red-ball cricket. This move reflects the board's commitment to encouraging greater participation and excellence in Test cricket among Indian players.