The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has released its list of centrally contracted players for the period from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025. The structure remains largely consistent with previous years, although there are a few notable inclusions and exclusions. The top-tier (A+) contracts continue to be awarded to India's most consistent performersacross formats.

Top-Tier Players in A+ Grade

The elite Grade A+ category remains unchanged from the previous cycle. The players who continue to hold these top-tier contracts are:

• Rohit Sharma

• Virat Kohli

• Jasprit Bumrah

• Ravindra Jadeja

These four players are considered the core of the Indian cricket team across formats, and despite Rohit Sharma’s retirement from T20 Internationals, he retains his place in the top bracket due to his leadership and performances in Tests and ODIs.

Notable Returns and Demotions

One of the key changes in this cycle is the return of Shreyas Iyer to the Grade B category. Iyer had missed out on a central contract last season due to his failure to participate in domestic cricket. However, his recent form and commitment to the domestic circuit have earned him a spot again.

On the other hand, Ishan Kishan, who had also missed out previously for skipping the Ranji Trophy, has now been included in Grade C. The selectors have taken note of his potential role in India’s white-ball squads moving forward.

New Inclusions and Major Exits

The 2025 contract list features some fresh names based on recent performances. Notably, Varun Chakaravarthy, who made an impact during the Champions Trophy, has earned his maiden central contract in Grade C.

Others making their debut in the central contract list include:

• Dhruv Jurel

• Sarfaraz Khan

• Nitish Kumar Reddy

• Abhishek Sharma

• Harshit Rana

• Akash Deep

Meanwhile, some familiar names have been excluded from the list. These include:

• Shardul Thakur

• Jitesh Sharma

• KS Bharath

• Avesh Khan

• Vijaykumar Vyshak

• Umran Malik

• Yash Dayal

• Vidwath Kaverappa

Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is also not on the list, following his retirement from international cricket.

Contract Categories and Salary Structure

The BCCI has categorized player contracts into four tiers based on their importance and consistent participation across formats. Each tier comes with a different annual salary:

Grade A+ – ₹7 crore

Grade A – ₹5 crore

Grade B – ₹3 crore

Grade C – ₹1 crore

To qualify for a contract, a player must have played at least 3 Tests, 8 ODIs, or 10 T20Is during the assessment period. For instance, Chakaravarthy played a total of 18 international matches (including 4 ODIs and 12 T20Is), which made him eligible for a contract.

Complete List of Players by Category

A+ Grade:

• Rohit Sharma

• Virat Kohli

• Jasprit Bumrah

• Ravindra Jadeja

A Grade:

• Mohammed Siraj

• KL Rahul

• Shubman Gill

• Hardik Pandya

• Mohammed Shami

• Rishabh Pant

B Grade:

• Suryakumar Yadav

• Kuldeep Yadav

• Axar Patel

• Yashasvi Jaiswal

• Shreyas Iyer

C Grade:

• Rinku Singh

• Tilak Verma

• 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 Chakaravarthy

• Harshit Rana

The 2024-25 BCCI central contracts reflect a mix of stability at the top and dynamism in the lower tiers, providing opportunities to fresh talent while rewarding consistent performers. With an eye on upcoming ICC events, the inclusion of younger players signals a strategic approach to squad development across all formats.