BCCI Central Contracts 2024-25: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli Lead Elite Tier – Complete Player List
Mumbai/Patiala, 21 April (Sports Desk)
Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer Make Comeback; Varun Chakaravarthy, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, and Abhishek Sharma Secure First-Time Contracts
Overview
On Monday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) unveiled the 2024-25 Central Contracts for the men’s cricket team. Stalwarts Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja retained their spots in the prestigious A+ category, earning an annual retainer of ₹7 crore.
Contract Structure
The BCCI Central Contracts are categorized into four tiers:
- A+: ₹7 crore
- A: ₹5 crore
- B: ₹3 crore
- C: ₹1 crore
Key Developments
- Return of Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer: Both players, excluded from last year’s contracts, were reinstated. Shreyas Iyer secured a Grade B contract, while Ishan Kishan was placed in Grade C.
- Rishabh Pant’s Promotion: The wicketkeeper-batter, back from injury, was elevated to Grade A.
- Suryakumar Yadav: India’s T20 captain was included in Grade B.
- Exclusions: Ravichandran Ashwin, who retired from international cricket in December 2024, was automatically removed from the list. Shardul Thakur, Jitesh Sharma, KS Bharat, and Avesh Khan were also dropped.
- New Entrants: Spinner Varun Chakaravarthy earned his maiden contract following a stellar performance at the ICC Champions Trophy 2024. Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, and Abhishek Sharma also received their first central contracts.
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Contract Duration
The contracts, awarded to 34 players, are effective from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025.
BCCI Central Contracts 2024-25: Players and Salaries
| Grade | Players | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja | ₹7 crore |
| A | Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, Rishabh Pant | ₹5 crore |
| B | Suryakumar Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer | ₹3 crore |
| C | Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Mukesh Kumar, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Rajat Patidar, Dhruv Jurel, Sarfaraz Khan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Abhishek Sharma, Akash Deep, Varun Chakaravarthy, Harshit Rana | ₹1 crore |
What Are BCCI Central Contracts?
BCCI Central Contracts are annual retainership agreements between the Board of Control for Cricket in India and selected cricketers, guaranteeing a fixed sum based on their performance, consistency, and contribution to the national team.
Introduced in 2004, these contracts provide financial stability and structure, categorized into grades (A+, A, B, and C), each with a designated salary slab.
- A+ Category: Reserved for multi-format stalwarts forming the backbone of the Indian team.
- Lower Grades: Recognize emerging talents and format-specific players.
Selections and promotions are reviewed yearly by the BCCI in consultation with selectors and team management, factoring in performance and fitness.
Beyond the retainer, contracts include match fees, bonuses, and additional perks, rewarding players for both on-field contributions and their overall commitment to Indian cricket.
