The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unveiled its annual central contracts list for the 2024-25 season, maintaining its core leadership group while introducing several fresh faces. The contract period is effective from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025.
The A+ category—India’s cricketing elite—remains unchanged, with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja continuing to dominate the top bracket. Each player in this category earns a hefty ₹7 crore annually.
Shreyas Iyer Returns, Kishan Demoted
One of the notable changes this season is the return of Shreyas Iyer to the Grade B list after being excluded last year due to his failure to participate in domestic cricket. His commitment to domestic matches has earned him a fresh contract worth ₹3 crore.
Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan finds himself demoted to Grade C. His absence from the Ranji Trophy, following a break from international duties, played a crucial role in this downgrade. Grade C players receive an annual retainership of ₹1 crore.
New Entrants and Notable Absentees
Varun Chakaravarthy has earned his first-ever BCCI contract thanks to his impressive performance in the recent ICC Champions Trophy. He is slotted into Grade C after playing 18 international matches, including 4 ODIs and 12 T20Is, comfortably meeting the eligibility criteria.
On the flip side, veteran spinner R Ashwin exits the central contract list altogether, following his recent retirement from international cricket.
Other debutants include Harshit Rana, Abhishek Sharma, and Nitish Kumar Reddy, who have broken into Grade C based on consistent performances and fulfilling the match eligibility norms—3 Tests, 8 ODIs, or 10 T20Is in a year.
Complete Breakdown of BCCI Central Contracts 2025
Grade A+ (₹7 crore):
- Rohit Sharma
- Virat Kohli
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Ravindra Jadeja
Grade A (₹5 crore):
- Mohammed Siraj
- KL Rahul
- Shubman Gill
- Hardik Pandya
- Mohammed Shami
- Rishabh Pant
Grade B (₹3 crore):
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Axar Patel
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Shreyas Iyer
Grade C (₹1 crore):
- Rinku Singh
- Tilak Verma
- Ruturaj Gaikwad
- Shivam Dube
- Ravi Bishnoi
- Washington Sundar
- Mukesh Kumar
- Sanju Samson
- Arshdeep Singh
- Prasidh Krishna
- Rajat Patidar
- Dhruv Jurel
- Sarfaraz Khan
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Ishan Kishan
- Abhishek Sharma
- Akash Deep
- Varun Chakaravarthy
- Harshit Rana
What Determines a BCCI Contract?
To qualify for a BCCI central contract, a player must meet the minimum participation threshold—3 Test matches, 8 ODIs, or 10 T20Is in a calendar year. Performance, fitness, and commitment to domestic cricket are also critical factors.
The 2025 BCCI central contracts reflect a blend of stability and future-forward thinking. While the senior stalwarts continue to lead, the rise of young names like Varun Chakaravarthy and Abhishek Sharma signals India’s expanding talent pipeline. With players being held accountable for their participation in domestic cricket, this list also underscores the board’s emphasis on holistic commitment, not just international glamour.
