Welcome to an exciting update from the world of Indian cricket! The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unveiled the much-anticipated annual player contracts for the Team India Senior Men squad for the 2024-25 season, spanning from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025. This announcement, made on Monday, brings a wave of surprises, comebacks, and well-deserved promotions that have set the cricketing fraternity abuzz.
Leading the headlines, Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan have made triumphant returns to the central contracts list after being sidelined last season. Iyer, who was reportedly dropped for prioritizing IPL over domestic cricket, has been awarded a Grade B contract, while Kishan, the dynamic wicketkeeper-batter who faced a similar fate, secures a Grade C contract worth Rs 1 crore annually. Their reinstatement signals a renewed trust from the selectors in their potential to contribute to India’s future campaigns.
In another major development, Rishabh Pant has been rewarded for his incredible comeback story with a promotion to Grade A, which carries a hefty retainership of Rs 5 crore annually. Pant, who was demoted to Grade B during the 2023-24 season due to his recovery from a near-fatal car accident in December 2022, has defied all odds with stellar performances in domestic and international cricket. His return to the elite Grade A category replaces the recently retired spin maestro Ravichandran Ashwin, marking the end of an era and the rise of a new superstar.
The contracts list also shines a spotlight on fresh talent. Grade C, which boasts the maximum number of players at 19, welcomes four new entrants—Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Abhishek Sharma, and Nitish Kumar Reddy. These young guns have caught the selectors’ eyes with their consistent performances in domestic circuits and the IPL, promising a bright future for Indian cricket.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of the BCCI central contracts for the 2024-25 season:
Grade A+ (Rs 7 crore annually): Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja
Grade A (Rs 5 crore annually): Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, Rishabh Pant
Grade B (Rs 3 crore annually): Suryakumar Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer
Grade C (Rs 1 crore annually): Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Mukesh Kumar, Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Rajat Patidar, Dhruv Jurel, Sarfaraz Khan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma, Akash Deep, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana
The BCCI’s contract decisions reflect a blend of rewarding experience and nurturing emerging talent. With veterans like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli anchoring Grade A+, and rising stars finding their footing in Grade C, the future looks balanced and exciting. However, questions remain—will Iyer and Kishan justify their comeback with consistent performances? Can Pant continue his meteoric rise to become India’s backbone in all formats? Only time will tell.
As we wrap up this update, Indian cricket fans have plenty to cheer about. The BCCI’s latest contracts are not just a financial recognition but a testament to the grit, talent, and relentless spirit of these athletes. Stay tuned for more updates as the 2024-25 season unfolds with high-octane cricketing action!