Bhuvaneshwar Kumar's strong performance in test cricket in 2014 saw him being rewarded by the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI), and the board awarded him a Grade A contract, one of only five members of the Indian team to be rewarded thus.
The other four players to get Grade A contract are M S Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and R Ashwin.
Ajinkya Rahane, who was earlier in a lower category, has been awarded a Grade B contract due to his consistent performance in the tests in both England and the ongoing series in Australia.
The others players to get Grade B contracts are Pragyan Ojha, M. Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Umesh Yadav, Rohit Sharma, Ambati Rayudu and Mohammed Shami.
Meanwhile, a strong performance by Axar Patel in the One Day International (ODI) series against Sri Lanka, where India comprehensively defeated the visitors 5-0, saw the southpaw being awarded a Grade C contract.
Others to get Grade C contract are Amit Mishra, Varun Aaron, Wriddhiman Saha, Stuart Binny, Pankaj Singh, R. Vinay Kumar, Mohit Sharma, Dhawal Kulkarni, Parveez Rasool, Manoj Tiwary, Robin Uthappa, Karn Sharma, Sanju Samson, Kuldeep Yadav and K L Rahul.
The BCCI has said that players who are not in the lists will be placed in Grade C as and when they represent India in Tests, ODIs and T20 Internationals during this season.
