The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced its central contracts for the 2024-25 season, with significant developments for both men's and women's cricket. While the women's contract list has introduced new faces and rewarded consistent performers, the men's contract list is witnessing debates over the retention of senior players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Here’s a detailed look at the latest announcements, controversies, and their impact on Indian cricket.

BCCI Women’s Central Contracts 2024-25

The Indian women's cricket team saw major reshuffling in their contract list for the October 2024 – September 2025 season. The BCCI has retained its trust in key performers, while some names were either dropped or included for the first time.

Grade A Players (₹50 lakh per annum)

Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain)

Smriti Mandhana (Vice-Captain)

Deepti Sharma

These three players have been the backbone of Indian women's cricket and were expected to retain their spots at the top. They have consistently performed across formats and have been instrumental in India’s recent success.

Grade B Players (₹30 lakh per annum)

Renuka Singh Thakur

Jemimah Rodrigues

Richa Ghosh

Shafali Verma

Notably, Shafali Verma, one of India's most promising batters, has been retained in Grade B despite her impactful performances in ICC tournaments.

Grade C Players (₹10 lakh per annum)

Shreyanka Patil

Yastika Bhatia

Radha Yadav

Titas Sadhu

Arundhati Reddy

Amanjot Kaur

Uma Chetry

Sneh Rana

Pooja Vastrakar

Who Missed Out?

• Harleen Deol was among the notable omissions, raising eyebrows in the cricketing community. Despite her decent performances, she failed to secure a contract this time.

New Entrants:

• Shreyanka Patil, Titas Sadhu, Arundhati Reddy, and Amanjot Kaur have been rewarded with their maiden contracts after impressive domestic and international performances.

BCCI Men's Central Contract: Will Kohli & Rohit Retain Their Top Spot?

The central contracts for India’s men’s team are under discussion, and reports suggest a divide among BCCI stakeholders regarding the retention of senior players in the top category.

What’s the Debate?

Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma: With both players stepping away from T20Is and nearing the latter stages of their careers, there is uncertainty about whether they will remain in the A+ category (₹7 crore per annum).

Shreyas Iyer & Ishan Kishan: Both players were dropped from the Test squad and missed domestic matches, raising questions about their future in the contract list. Reports suggest Shreyas Iyer might make a comeback, but no final decision has been made.

Potential Categories for Men's Contracts

• Grade A+ (₹7 crore) – Includes all-format elite players like Jasprit Bumrah, and possibly Rohit and Kohli.
• Grade A (₹5 crore) – Players consistently featuring in two formats.
• Grade B (₹3 crore) – Players performing in limited formats.
• Grade C (₹1 crore) – Emerging or fringe players.

The final announcement for men's contracts is expected soon, and it will be interesting to see if experience outweighs transition plans.

What This Means for Indian Cricket?

• The women's contract list reflects a balanced approach, rewarding young talent while maintaining faith in established names.
• The ongoing discussions on the men’s contracts highlight a transitional phase in Indian cricket, where young players are being groomed for the future.
• With IPL 2025 on the horizon, performances in the tournament could play a crucial role in deciding the final contract list for the men’s team.

Stay tuned for further updates as BCCI makes its final decision on the men’s central contracts! 🚀🏏