BCCI announces men's central contract list for 2024-25 season; Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan return

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday, April 21 announced the central contract for the India Men's Senior team for the 2024-25 calendar. ODI and Test captain Rohit Sharma is in the Grade A+ list alongside star batter Virat Kohli, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah. Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer, who were ignored a contract in the previous season due to absence from domestic tournaments, have made a comeback.

A total of 34 players have been awarded the contract, and while the majority of them have been retained, a few have also earned their maiden central deal from the BCCI. Abhishek Sharma, who opens in T20Is and has played 17 of them for the Indian team has been included. Meanwhile, all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who debuted in T20Is and Tests in late 2025 has also been included. Pacer Harshit Rana is also among the three latest entrants.

All-format wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who was a part of India's T20 World Cup 2024 and Champions Trophy 2025 winning squad has been promoted from Grade B to Grade A, while the retired off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has naturally made his way out. Meanwhile, Mohammed Siraj, who was dropped from the ODI team ahead of the Champions Trophy, has also maintained his Grade A deal from the BCCI.

Iyer, who has been included in the Grade B, forms part of the group that also includes names like Yashasvi Jaiswal, promoted from Grade C the preceding year. Pacer Akash Deep, who debuted against England in 2024 and was also a part of the squad that toured Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 has been added, from his previous Fast Bowlers' contract for 2023-24 period.

Among those who have been expelled include Test wicketkeeper KS Bharat and T20 pacer Avesh Khan. T20I specialist Jitesh Sharma and all-rounder Shardul Thakur, have also been sidelined. All the four mentioned were a part of Grade C in the 2023-24 season.

Sarfaraz Khan, who has currently represented India only in red-ball format, and became eligible by meeting the minimum match criteria, has been automatically included. The Grade C also includes the likes of Ishan Kishan, who may not have represented the national team in the last year or so, but regular domestic appearances and discipline have earned him a place back into the team.

Champions Trophy hero, Varun Chakravarthy, has made a dramatic comeback, after having a disappointing stint during his previous contract with the board.

BCCI Annual Central Contract List 2025-26