The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unveiled its annual central contracts for the 2024-25 season, bringing with it some top returns and fresh inclusions.
Among the most important developments is the return of Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan, who were both removed from the previous year’s list owing to disciplinary issues. Iyer returns to Grade B, while Kishan advances to Grade C following a solid performance in the present IPL 2025 season.
Only four players at the top of the hierarchy have received noted A+ category contracts: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja. Despite considerable assumption that they would be dropped from the top tier following their T20I retirements, the experienced trio of Rohit, Kohli, and Jadeja have been kept, demonstrating their sustained worth across forms. The A+ category promises an annual pay of INR 7 crores.
The central contract structure, which is separated into four categories, A+, A, B, and C, is based on players’ performance and involvement in all three game types.
Emerging talent has also been recognised, with Rajat Patidar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, and others signing their first BCCI contracts. Harshit Rana, Abhishek Sharma, and Varun Chakaravarthy have all been placed in Category C, indicating their growth in Indian cricket.
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— BCCI (@BCCI) April 21, 2025
BCCI announces annual player retainership 2024-25 – Team India (Senior Men)#TeamIndia
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Rishabh Pant also received a significant upgrade, moving up to Grade A, indicating his rising importance in the Indian setup following his recovery.
Shreyas Iyer’s comeback is particularly noteworthy, given that he played a vital role in India’s ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 triumph earlier this year, cementing his spot in the national team.