The BCCI has officially rolled out its central contract list for Team India (Senior Men) for the 2024-25 season, and while some decisions were expected, a few have sparked major debate.
Grade A+ continues to be cricket royalty, featuring Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja – the only four players to receive the highest retainership. Their consistency across formats has earned them another year at the top.
In Grade A, notable names like KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, and Mohammed Shami secured their positions – balancing injury returns, white-ball performances, and leadership potential.
Shreyas Iyer, however, was demoted to Grade B, a move that has raised eyebrows. Once a middle-order mainstay, his slide may reflect ongoing concerns about form and fitness. Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Suryakumar Yadav also fall under Grade B – all expected to be in India’s plans for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
But it’s Grade C where the story really unfolds. The BCCI has gone bold, bringing in emerging stars and IPL standouts. Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Sanju Samson, Dhruv Jurel, Abhishek Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, and Harshit Rana are among the 20 names in this tier, many of whom are primed for major international exposure.
Absent from the list entirely is a talking point in itself. Players like Ajinkya Rahane, Umesh Yadav, and even Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who once figured prominently, have not been awarded contracts this year.
The contracts come with clear performance incentives and reflect the selectors’ pivot toward youth, fitness, and format-specific specialists. With new support staff likely to join before the next international cycle begins, the BCCI seems to be aligning the roadmap ahead of the upcoming matches.
🚨 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 🚨
BCCI announces annual player retainership 2024-25 – Team India (Senior Men)#TeamIndia
Details 🔽https://t.co/lMjl2Ici3P pic.twitter.com/CsJHaLSeho
— BCCI (@BCCI) April 21, 2025
Fans are particularly divided on Axar Patel’s placement in Grade B, with some arguing he deserves more based on his all-round contributions in the absence of Jadeja. Similarly, discussions about Rinku Singh and Sanju Samson remaining in Grade C despite their T20 impact continue to trend on social media.
What do you think of BCCI’s central contract list for 2024-25? Let us know in the comments!
