BCCI Central Contracts 2024-25: Full Player List, Salary Grades & New Inclusions
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has released the annual central contracts for the Indian men’s cricket team for the 2024-25 season. A total of 34 players have been awarded contracts across four categories.
Despite stepping away from T20 internationals last year, senior players Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja have all been retained in the elite Grade A+ category. They are joined by pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, completing the top-tier quartet.
Grade A: Rishabh Pant Earns Promotion
The Grade A list features six prominent names: KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, and Rishabh Pant. Pant's promotion to this tier highlights his growing significance in the national setup.
Iyer, Kishan Return After Domestic Cricket Snub
After being excluded last season due to disciplinary reasons over skipping domestic cricket, Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan are back in the contract fold. Iyer finds a place in Grade B, while Kishan is part of the Grade C pool.
Grade B: A Balanced Line-Up
Joining Shreyas Iyer in Grade B are established and rising talents like Suryakumar Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Each player in this category will receive an annual retainer of Rs 5 crore.
Grade C: Nineteen Players Included
The Grade C list has the most inclusions this year, with 19 players earning contracts. Among them are Rinku Singh, Tilak Verma, Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh, and Mukesh Kumar.
New Entrants in Grade C
Four fresh faces have made it to the Grade C list for the first time: Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Abhishek Sharma, and Varun Chakaravarthy. Notably, Chakaravarthy has been recognized for his standout performance during India's Champions Trophy victory.
Salary Structure
The BCCI’s contract categories come with different annual salaries:
- Grade A+: ₹7 crore
- Grade A: ₹5 crore
- Grade B: ₹3 crore
- Grade C: ₹1 crore
No Demotion for Senior Stars
Despite ongoing discussions about possible demotions for veterans who are not active in all three formats, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja have maintained their top-tier status.