BCCI Central Contracts 2024-25 Out Now: Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan Make a Comeback, Rishabh Pant Gets a Big Upgrade

In a major update from the Indian cricketing world, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced its central contracts list for 2024-25, sparking renewed conversations among fans and experts alike. The list is headlined by the much-anticipated return of Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan, both of whom were previously dropped due to their absence from the domestic cricket circuit. Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant, who made a phenomenal comeback to international cricket post-injury, has been promoted to Grade A—a testament to his resilience and match-winning capabilities.

The Grade A+ category, the top tier of Indian cricket’s retainers, continues to feature stalwarts Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja. These icons of Indian cricket have retained their premium status despite stepping away from T20 Internationals following India’s memorable T20 World Cup victory in June 2024. The only notable exclusion from this tier is Ravichandran Ashwin, who retired from international cricket late last year.

Rishabh Pant’s rise back to Grade A is symbolic of grit and determination. After suffering a life-threatening car accident in December 2022 and missing out on more than a year of cricket, Pant returned to competitive action in IPL 2024. Since then, he has featured in all three formats, clocking 10 Tests, 1 ODI, and 10 T20Is, proving his worth once again as a dependable wicketkeeper-batter.

Shreyas Iyer, who had initially lost his contract over a domestic season absence due to back spasms, made a strong case for his return by delivering consistently across formats. He led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to an IPL 2024 title and clinched four major domestic trophies for Mumbai, including the Ranji Trophy, Irani Cup, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and Champions Trophy. His impactful performance with 243 runs in five innings during the Champions Trophy made him the tournament’s second-highest run scorer.

Ishan Kishan, on the other hand, was under scrutiny after opting for the DY Patil T20 tournament over returning to Jharkhand’s domestic circuit. However, he made amends by rejoining Jharkhand across all formats during the 2024-25 season, which has now earned him a place in Grade C.

The new faces introduced in Grade C include promising cricketers like Nitish Kumar Reddy, Abhishek Sharma, Dhruv Jurel, Sarfaraz Khan, Akash Deep, Varun Chakravarthy, and Harshit Rana. These players have made a mark either through strong domestic performances or limited but impressive international stints. Notably, Varun Chakravarthy stood out in the Champions Trophy, bagging nine wickets in just three matches.

Meanwhile, the BCCI has dropped Shardul Thakur, KS Bharat, Avesh Khan, and Jitesh Sharma from the list, all of whom were in Grade C last year. The exclusion seems to stem from a combination of inconsistent performances and fewer appearances on the international stage.

Although BCCI hasn’t officially disclosed the financial details of each grade, reports suggest the retainership values remain unchanged: ₹7 Crore for Grade A+, ₹5 Crore for Grade A, ₹3 Crore for Grade B, and ₹1 Crore for Grade C.

The central contracts also reaffirm BCCI’s firm stance on domestic cricket. Last year, the board emphasized that “all athletes must prioritize domestic cricket when not on national duty.” This message appears to have been taken seriously by several players, evident from the comebacks of Iyer and Kishan.

This year’s contract list reflects a healthy blend of experience, form-based recognition, and investment in the future. With seasoned campaigners, dynamic youngsters, and newly emerging talent, the 2024-25 contract roster lays a solid foundation for Indian cricket as it prepares for upcoming challenges across formats.