BCCI Central Contracts 2024-25: Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan Return as Rishabh Pant Climbs Ranks in Major Shake-Up

The BCCI has unveiled its latest list of centrally contracted cricketers for the 2024-25 season, triggering a buzz in the Indian cricketing landscape. After being excluded in the previous cycle, Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan have made their way back, while Rishabh Pant’s consistent performances since his comeback have earned him an elevation.

With a mix of experienced veterans, returning talents, and fresh inclusions, the newly announced contracts reflect a shift in priorities and a focus on rewarding form, fitness, and domestic commitment.

Elite Core Remains Intact with Minor Tweaks

The top bracket — Grade A+ — remains largely unchanged, with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja maintaining their elite status. The only change in this elite tier comes with R Ashwin’s removal following his retirement from international duty late last year. Notably, even after stepping away from T20Is following India’s triumphant World Cup campaign in June 2024, Rohit, Kohli, and Jadeja continue to enjoy the board’s highest level of trust and respect.

Pant Reclaims Former Glory

One of the most significant updates in the list is the promotion of Rishabh Pant from Grade B to Grade A. The dynamic wicketkeeper-batter had suffered a temporary demotion in the previous cycle due to an extended injury layoff following a serious car accident in December 2022. However, a successful return via IPL 2024 and consistent performances across all three formats since — including ten Tests, ten T20Is, and one ODI — has seen Pant regain his place among India’s premier performers.

His elevation marks a strong comeback story and recognizes his all-format utility to the team. Pant had previously held a Grade A contract during the 2022-23 season.

Shreyas and Kishan Return After Domestic Recalibration

Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan, both of whom were left out of the previous contracts list for not prioritizing domestic cricket, have now found their way back into the central scheme. Iyer is now placed in Grade B, while Kishan has been slotted into Grade C.

Last year, both faced exclusion amid criticism from the board. Iyer had cited back spasms, while Kishan had opted to play the DY Patil T20 tournament instead of rejoining Jharkhand in the domestic circuit. The BCCI had responded firmly: “All athletes give precedence to participating in domestic cricket during periods when they are not representing the national team.”

Since then, the duo has made amends. Iyer, in particular, has enjoyed a prolific domestic season, securing five major titles — including an IPL trophy with KKR, the Ranji Trophy, Irani Cup, and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with Mumbai — and contributing significantly in India’s Champions Trophy triumph with 243 runs in five innings, second only to the tournament’s top scorer.

Kishan, too, returned to action in domestic formats for Jharkhand in the 2024-25 season, showcasing his willingness to adhere to the board’s expectations.

Youthful Surge in Grade C

The Grade C category has witnessed a fresh influx of rising stars, many of whom have had breakthrough performances in recent months. New entrants include Nitish Kumar Reddy, Dhruv Jurel, Abhishek Sharma, Sarfaraz Khan, Akash Deep, Varun Chakravarthy, and Harshit Rana. This injection of youth suggests a strategic emphasis on building a robust talent pipeline.

Among these, Varun Chakravarthy has been particularly impressive, making a return to the T20I setup against Bangladesh before making his ODI debut and excelling in the Champions Trophy with nine wickets in three games. Meanwhile, Harshit Rana has risen quickly, debuting across all formats and appearing in two games during the marquee tournament.

Notable Omissions and Departures

The contracts list also marks the end of the road for some players — Shardul Thakur, KS Bharat, Avesh Khan, and Jitesh Sharma have been dropped after previously holding Grade C contracts. Their exclusion signals a shifting focus, possibly due to form, competition, or lack of recent national team appearances.

Monetary Tiers and Financial Breakdown

Although the BCCI has not officially confirmed the financial details, ESPNcricinfo reports the following annual retainer amounts:

• Grade A+: ₹7 crore
• Grade A: ₹5 crore
• Grade B: ₹3 crore
• Grade C: ₹1 crore

These tiers offer a clear reflection of a player’s standing in the national setup, with performance, fitness, and availability playing a major role in determining the respective categories.

Full List of BCCI Central Contracts 2024-25

Grade A+: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja
Grade A: Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, Rishabh Pant
Grade B: Suryakumar Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer
Grade C: Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, 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 Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana

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