The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the much-anticipated annual central contracts for the national women’s cricket team, with captain Harmanpreet Kaur, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, and all-rounder Deepti Sharma maintaining their positions in the prestigious Grade A category.
The contract structure, which serves as a financial backbone for the players beyond match fees, continues to feature three tiers with Grade A players receiving an annual retainer of Rs 50 lakh, Grade B players earning Rs 30 lakh, and Grade C players being awarded Rs 10 lakh.
Four key players have secured their places in the Grade B tier, including pace bowler Renuka Singh Thakur, who has emerged as a reliable new-ball specialist for India in recent years. She is joined by dynamic all-rounder Jemimah Rodrigues, explosive opener Shafali Verma, and wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh, all of whom have delivered consistent performances across formats.
In a notable omission, experienced left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad, previously contracted in Grade B, has been left out of the central contract list for the upcoming season. This comes as a surprise considering her substantial experience at the international level.
The Grade C category has witnessed the most significant changes, with five promising youngsters receiving their maiden central contracts. Off-spinner Shreyanka Patil, who impressed during her recent international debut and in the Women’s Premier League (WPL), leads this cohort of newcomers. She is joined by teenage pace sensation Titas Sadhu, who earned player of the match honors in the Asian Games final, along with pacer Arundhati Reddy, all-rounder Amanjot Kaur, and wicketkeeper Uma Chetry.
These fresh faces will share the Grade C tier with established players Yastika Bhatia, Radha Yadav, Sneh Rana, and Pooja Vastrakar, creating a healthy mix of experience and youth.
Several players from the previous contract cycle have missed out this time, including Meghna Singh, Devika Vaidya, Sabbineni Meghana, Anjali Sarvani, and Harleen Deol. Their exclusion indicates the selectors’ focus on rewarding recent performers and investing in promising talent.
The announcement comes at a crucial juncture for Indian women’s cricket, with the ODI World Cup scheduled on home soil later this year. Despite boasting a talented squad and reaching the finals and semifinals of major tournaments in recent years, the Indian women’s team is still in pursuit of their first global trophy.
The central contracts announcement reflects the BCCI’s continued commitment to women’s cricket, though the significant disparity between the men’s and women’s contract values remains a topic of discussion in cricketing circles.