BCCI has announced the central contracts for the 2024–25 season. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja have retained their spots in the top grade. Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan have returned to the central contract list. Rishabh Pant has been promoted, while Ravichandran Ashwin has been excluded.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially released the annual central contracts for the Senior Men’s team for the 2024–25 season, covering the period from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025. Amid notable shifts in the roster, stalwarts Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja have retained their Grade A+ contracts despite stepping away from the T20I format last year. Each of these cricketers will continue to receive an annual remuneration of ₹7 crore under the top-tier category.
The A+ list saw no new inclusions or omissions, reaffirming the BCCI’s faith in these players’ continued relevance in the Test and ODI formats. The Grade A bracket, offering a ₹5 crore retainer, features ten players, including Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, and a resurgent Rishabh Pant, who has been promoted from Grade B after a commendable return from a life-threatening accident. His elevation comes in place of veteran Ravichandran Ashwin, who retired from international cricket and has consequently been excluded from the list.
Among the most discussed developments is the return of Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan. Both players had missed out on contracts last season due to their non-participation in domestic cricket. Iyer has now been placed in Grade B (₹3 crore), while Kishan finds a spot in Grade C (₹1 crore). Their reinstatement indicates a renewed commitment to the domestic circuit and adherence to the BCCI’s emphasis on prioritizing domestic competitions alongside IPL participation.
A total of 34 players have been awarded annual contracts this season. Grade C, the most populous category, features 19 players, including newcomers Nitish Kumar Reddy, Abhishek Sharma, Akash Deep, Varun Chakravarthy, and Harshit Rana. Young talents such as Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel, who impressed during the England Test series earlier this year, have also been officially added to the list.
Interestingly, the BCCI made no mention of the special fast bowling contracts introduced last season. Whether they have been discontinued or revised remains unclear.
While questions had been raised over the continuation of Kohli, Rohit, and Jadeja in the top bracket post their T20I retirements, their consistent contributions in ODIs and Tests have cemented their place in the A+ category. This announcement not only reaffirms the BCCI’s priorities but also signals a continued emphasis on form, fitness, and domestic involvement in determining contract status.
