Ashwin replaces Harbhajan in top bracket of BCCI contracts

Off-spinner R Ashwin on Friday replaced out-of-form senior tweakerHarbhajan Singh in the top bracket of BCCI's list of central retainership contracts, while struggling pacer Ishant Sharma was also demoted from Grade A to B. 
Harbhajan and Ishant have spent the better part of this year out of the team struggling for form in whatever chances they have been handed. 
The 26-year-old Ashwin, on the other hand, has played eight Tests since making his debut in November last year, grabbing 49 wickets. In the recent home series against New Zealand, he had taken 18 wickets in two Tests. 
In the ODIs, he has scalped 56 wickets in 40 matches. The Chennai-bowler has 12 wickets from his 15 Twenty20 International appearances. 
The elite Grade A features nine players this year, three down from the last season, according to a press release issued by the BCCI.