The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unveiled the list of central contracts for the 2024-25 season, featuring several notable promotions, demotions, and returns. The list is divided into four categories: A+, A, B, and C, based on the players’ recent performances and contributions to the Indian cricket team.
Key Highlights:
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Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja continue to hold their positions in Grade A+, the highest category, which comes with a salary of ₹7 crore.
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Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan, who were excluded last year due to limited domestic cricket appearances, have both been reinstated in the central contract list, signaling their strong performances over the last year.
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Rishabh Pant, following a series of consistent performances, has been promoted to Grade A, alongside pacers Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj.
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Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Hardik Pandya retain their places in Grade A, while younger players like Yashasvi Jaiswal make their way into the contract system.
Promotions and Demotions:
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Shubman Gill has been retained in Grade A following an impressive year in limited-overs cricket, especially in T20s.
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Mohammed Siraj, the leading bowler for India in the recent series, has seen a well-deserved rise in his contract status.
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Shreyas Iyer, previously excluded from the contract list, returns in Grade B. Iyer had missed out last year due to his back injury and limited playing time, but he has come back strong, contributing with bat and leadership skills.
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Ishan Kishan, also previously excluded, returns with a Grade C contract.
Notable Absences:
Several experienced players have been left out of the contract list this year. These include:
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Shikhar Dhawan, who has been absent from the national team for a while.
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Cheteshwar Pujara and Umesh Yadav, two stalwarts who have lost their central contracts as the BCCI continues to place emphasis on younger players.
Player Breakdown by Grade:
Grade A+ (₹7 Crore per year):
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Rohit Sharma
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Virat Kohli
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Jasprit Bumrah
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Ravindra Jadeja
Grade A (₹5 Crore per year):
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Rishabh Pant
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Shubman Gill
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KL Rahul
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Hardik Pandya
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Mohammed Shami
Grade B (₹3 Crore per year):
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Shreyas Iyer
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Suryakumar Yadav
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Kuldeep Yadav
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Axar Patel
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Yashasvi Jaiswal
Grade C (₹1 Crore per year):
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Ishan Kishan
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Shardul Thakur
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Sanju Samson
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Arshdeep Singh
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Ruturaj Gaikwad
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Ravi Bishnoi
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KS Bharat
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Prasidh Krishna
What’s Next for India’s Cricketers?
The BCCI’s central contracts provide a clear reflection of the players’ roles within the team and their future potential. With the 2024-25 season fast approaching, Indian cricketers are now more focused than ever on maintaining their positions within these contract grades. As the national team prepares for upcoming international fixtures, the new contract system underscores the growing importance of consistency and form in retaining a spot within India’s elite cricket roster.
Salary Structure:
The annual retainers for players based on their grades are expected to be as follows:
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Grade A+: ₹7 crore
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Grade A: ₹5 crore
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Grade B: ₹3 crore
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Grade C: ₹1 crore
The BCCI’s decision to revise the contracts is a testament to its evolving strategy to reward players who are performing at the highest level, while also providing opportunities for younger talent to step up and make their mark.