The BCCI’s 2023-24 central contract cycle has ended, and the board is set to announce the list for the 2024-25 cycle soon. While no official confirmation has been made yet, several reports have surfaced, shedding light on which star players are likely to be included.
Kohli, Rohit in A+ Grade; Shreyas Iyer to return in A Grade
According to reports, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will retain their Grade A+ contracts. Despite retiring from T20Is last year and now playing only two formats, both will continue to earn an annual salary of ₹7 crore. Jasprit Bumrah is also expected to remain in this elite category. Ravindra Jadeja, who was the fourth player in Grade A+ last cycle, might be demoted to Grade A this time.
Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer is reportedly set for a comeback in Grade A. After being dropped from both the Indian team and the central contracts in early 2024, Iyer made a strong return—first leading KKR to the IPL 2024 title, then captaining Mumbai to victory in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. His ₹26.75 crore deal with Punjab Kings in the IPL auction made him the second most expensive player in history.
More importantly, he was India’s highest run-scorer in their triumphant Champions Trophy 2025 campaign, which played a crucial role in earning him back a central contract. Iyer will enjoy an annual salary of ₹5 crore in Grade A.
R Ashwin to be removed from BCCI’s 2025 Central Contract
Meanwhile, a notable exclusion from the upcoming list will be Ravichandran Ashwin. The veteran off-spinner, who was part of Grade A, has retired from international cricket and will be automatically removed from the central contract list. Ashwin primarily played Tests and was the only specialist in a single format among the six Grade A players last cycle.
Wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat is also expected to be dropped from the central contracts. Bharat, who was part of the Grade C category, was left out of the Test side after the England series in 2024. It seems the selectors have moved on from him, with Dhruv Jurel now becoming a regular member of the Test setup.
