The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced its central contracts list for the 2024-25 season, which sees Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan making a return after missing out on the previous list. The BCCI’s central contracts for the new season also highlight the prominent figures of Indian cricket, with Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah retaining their positions in the A+ category, ensuring their top-tier status and significant remuneration.
This year’s list sees some notable changes, with Shreyas Iyer being placed in the B category, a category for players who are integral but may not feature as regularly as those in the A+ tier. Ishan Kishan has been allotted the C category, a category that includes players still progressing in their international careers but who have shown potential in domestic cricket and limited opportunities at the international level. Both players were excluded from the central contracts last season, after not meeting the criteria, with Shreyas missing the Ranji Trophy due to injury and Ishan opting out of Jharkhand’s domestic commitments.
Details of BCCI’s New Contract Structure
As per BCCI’s policy, players who meet the criteria of playing a minimum of three Tests, eight ODIs, or 10 T20Is within the year are eligible for a central contract. Players in the A+ category receive INR 7 crore annually, while players in the A and B categories earn INR 5 crore and INR 3 crore, respectively. Players in the C category, like Iyer and Kishan, are awarded INR 1 crore.
The 2024-25 season also sees some newcomers in the central contracts list. Varun Chakravarthy, following his performance in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy, has earned his spot in the B category. Additionally, rising stars like Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Abhishek Sharma have secured their first central contracts with the BCCI. On the other hand, seasoned players such as Ravichandran Ashwin, who retired from international cricket in December 2024, and others like Shardul Thakur and Avesh Khan have been excluded from the list.
This year’s list reflects the BCCI’s continued focus on nurturing both experienced players and emerging talents, while ensuring that remuneration is tied to performance and regularity in international cricket.
