In a significant update for Indian cricket, Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan have made their way back into the BCCI’s central contracts list for the 2024-25 season, after having been left out in the previous cycle. The list also sees Rishabh Pant receiving a well-deserved promotion from Grade B to Grade A, following his impressive return to international cricket after a lengthy recovery period.
Key Changes in the BCCI Central Contracts List
For the 2024-25 season, the BCCI has handed out retainers to 34 players, up from 30 in the previous year. The top tier of contracts, A+, remains unchanged, with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja retaining their places. Despite stepping down from T20I duties post-India’s T20 World Cup win in June 2024, Rohit, Kohli, and Jadeja have maintained their positions in the top category.
Rishabh Pant’s Promotion
Pant’s return to the top has been one of the most notable stories. After missing significant time due to a car accident in December 2022, Pant was moved to Grade B last year. However, following his successful return in IPL 2024 and subsequent performances across formats — including 10 Tests, one ODI, and ten T20Is — he has been upgraded to Grade A.
Players in Grade A
The Grade A category now includes Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, and Pant. This category is expected to be valued at INR 5 crore.
Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan’s Return
Both Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan had previously lost their contracts after making themselves unavailable for domestic cricket. Iyer had cited back spasms, while Kishan opted to play in the DY Patil T20 tournament instead of returning to domestic cricket for Jharkhand. However, after successful domestic seasons — including multiple title wins for Iyer — both players are back on the roster.
Iyer’s impressive run
Iyer’s comeback has been remarkable, having been a part of five title victories since March 2024, including an IPL title with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as captain. Additionally, Iyer played key roles in the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy, the 2024-25 Irani Cup, and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with Mumbai, along with being part of India’s Champions Trophy-winning team.
Other Notable Changes
Grade B
Iyer is now part of Grade B, alongside Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav.
Grade C
A number of new faces have entered the Grade C category, including Nitish Kumar Reddy, Dhruv Jurel, Abhishek Sharma, Sarfaraz Khan, Akash Deep, Varun Chakravarthy, and Harshit Rana. This category includes players expected to earn INR 1 crore.
Dropped Players
Shardul Thakur, KS Bharat, Avesh Khan, and Jitesh Sharma, who were part of Grade C in the previous season, have been dropped from the contracts list.
Contract Values
While the BCCI has not officially disclosed the exact amounts for each category, reports suggest the likely values are as follows:
- A+ (Top Tier): INR 7 crore
- A: INR 5 crore
- B: INR 3 crore
- C: INR 1 crore
With a stronger, more diverse list of contracted players, the BCCI looks to continue fostering the development of India’s cricketing talent across all formats.
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