BCCI Central Contract 2024–25: Full Breakdown of Player Salaries, Promotions & Big Changes

By | April 22, 2025

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has released the central contracts for the 2024–25 season, sparking conversations across the cricketing world. While legends like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah maintain their places at the top, the list features a mix of promotions, fresh faces, and some unexpected omissions.

Although the BCCI hasn’t officially announced the exact salaries, reports suggest that the retainer structure stays the same:

  • Grade A+: ₹7 crore per year
  • Grade A: ₹5 crore
  • Grade B: ₹3 crore
  • Grade C: ₹1 crore

Let’s take a closer look at who made it into each category—and what these choices say about India’s cricketing priorities moving forward.

Grade A+: India’s Core Stars Retain Their Positions

At the summit, Grade A+ remains home to India’s most dependable and high-performing players:

The only notable change in this category is the absence of R Ashwin, who retired from international cricket late last year. His retirement naturally took him out of contention for this list.

Despite stepping away from T20Is after India’s T20 World Cup 2024 triumph, Rohit, Kohli, and Jadeja continue to occupy elite positions thanks to their leadership roles and multi-format impact. Their inclusion signals that experience and consistency still carry significant weight in the selection process.

Grade A: Rishabh Pant’s Comeback Story

One of the most inspiring developments in this year’s list is Rishabh Pant’s promotion back to Grade A. After a life-threatening car accident in late 2022, Pant faced months of rehabilitation. However, he made a strong return to international cricket, featuring in 10 Tests, 1 ODI, and 10 T20Is over the past season.

Pant’s all-format presence and match-winning ability earned him this well-deserved promotion.

Others joining him in Grade A include:

  • KL Rahul
  • Hardik Pandya
  • Mohammed Siraj
  • Shubman Gill
  • Mohammed Shami

Hardik continues to lead India’s white-ball efforts, especially in T20Is. Siraj and Shami remain central to the bowling attack in all formats. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill’s steady rise as a top-order batter reflects India’s long-term investment in young talent.

Grade B: Shreyas, Kuldeep, Surya Among Key Names

Shreyas Iyer headlines Grade B. Although he had a strong run in parts, inconsistency and fitness concerns possibly prevented a promotion to a higher category.

Others in Grade B include:

  • Kuldeep Yadav
  • Axar Patel
  • Yashasvi Jaiswal
  • Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav, India’s current T20I skipper, continues to shine in the shortest format but hasn’t made a significant impact in ODIs or Tests. That likely kept him from a higher grade. Meanwhile, Yashasvi Jaiswal—seen as one of India’s most promising young players—has earned his place here after strong showings in the past season.

Kuldeep and Axar, both dependable in the spin department, add valuable depth across formats.

Grade C and Missing Players

The BCCI hasn’t made the full Grade C list public, but this group usually features players on the national fringes—those recovering from injuries, making comebacks, or emerging from the domestic circuit.

More importantly, several regulars from past seasons didn’t receive a contract this time. These exclusions likely reflect form concerns, lack of fitness, or strategic reshuffling by the selection committee. The absence of certain names reminds us how competitive the Indian team environment has become.

What This Contract List Tells Us About India’s Cricket Future

The 2024–25 central contracts reflect the BCCI’s focus on rewarding performance, fitness, and long-term potential. Veterans like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli continue to receive the board’s trust, while rising stars like Jaiswal and Pant show how youth can climb the ranks with consistent effort.

The mix of retained legends, returning stars, and fresh talent paints a balanced picture of India’s cricketing direction. With key international assignments and ICC tournaments lined up, these contracts offer a glimpse into the team’s core going forward.

Fans will hope this blend of experience and youthful energy propels Indian cricket to greater heights in the coming year.