BCCI Central Contracts 2024-25: Pant Earns Grade A Promotion, Shreyas Iyer & Ishan Kishan Reinstated in Comeback Shakeup

In a move that has stirred conversations across the cricketing community, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unveiled its central contracts list for the 2024-25 season, featuring a mix of elite veterans, resilient comebacks, and promising fresh talent. The spotlight this year shines on Rishabh Pant, who has climbed back to Grade A, and on Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan, both of whom have earned re-entry into the list after being dropped last year.

The top tier, Grade A+, remains unchanged with Indian cricket’s cornerstone players Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja retaining their premium slots. The exit of Ravichandran Ashwin, following his international retirement in late 2023, is the only alteration at the top. Notably, Rohit, Kohli, and Jadeja hold their spots despite having retired from the T20I format after India’s victorious T20 World Cup campaign in June 2024.

One of the most heartening stories in this list is the return of Rishabh Pant to Grade A. After a terrifying car accident in December 2022 sidelined him for more than a year, Pant’s powerful return during IPL 2024 and consistent presence in all formats of India’s squads since then has reinstated his elite status. He’s played 10 Tests, 1 ODI, and 10 T20Is since his comeback, solidifying his spot as one of India’s most versatile players.

Shreyas Iyer, who missed out on a contract last year due to his unavailability for the domestic season, has enjoyed a spectacular resurgence. His leadership brought Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) the IPL 2024 title, and his consistent run with Mumbai across formats fetched them the Ranji Trophy, Irani Cup, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and the Champions Trophy—where he ended up as the tournament’s second-highest run scorer. His return is recognized with a place in Grade B.

Ishan Kishan, too, finds himself back in the fold, this time in Grade C, after returning to domestic cricket with Jharkhand following criticism for opting to play the DY Patil T20 tournament. His re-commitment to the domestic grind has helped restore his standing with the board.

In addition to these big names, several exciting young players have received their maiden central contracts. Rising stars like Nitish Kumar Reddy, Abhishek Sharma, Dhruv Jurel, Sarfaraz Khan, Akash Deep, Varun Chakravarthy, and Harshit Rana have all been placed in Grade C. Their inclusion speaks volumes about India’s depth of talent and the selectors’ focus on grooming future match-winners.

However, not all stories are celebratory. The likes of Shardul Thakur, KS Bharat, Avesh Khan, and Jitesh Sharma have been dropped from the contract list this year. Each of these players was in Grade C last year but did not do enough to retain their positions—whether due to inconsistent form or limited international exposure.

Although BCCI has not publicly shared the contract amounts, reliable sources suggest that the annual retainer remains the same as last year: ₹7 Crore for Grade A+, ₹5 Crore for Grade A, ₹3 Crore for Grade B, and ₹1 Crore for Grade C.

The board also reiterated its emphasis on the importance of domestic cricket. Last season, players were reminded to prioritize domestic tournaments when not representing India at the international level—something that played a critical role in the selection decisions for this year’s contracts.

With marquee tournaments and international tours ahead, this updated contract list sets the foundation for India’s strategic roadmap in cricket. It acknowledges seasoned performers, celebrates inspiring comebacks, and throws open the doors to the next generation of stars.