Shreyas Iyer, the in-form Indian cricketer, is on the brink of reclaiming his coveted BCCI central contract. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to unveil the full roster of retained players for the 2024-25 season sometime this week.
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia is slated to meet India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar in Guwahati on March 29. This meeting comes on the heels of Gambhir’s successful stint leading India to victory in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, after which he took a well-deserved vacation in France with his family. The discussions will focus on the central contracts, a critical aspect of Indian cricket’s administrative framework.
Coincidentally, Guwahati will host an IPL match between Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings the following day, on March 30. Just three days prior, the BCCI had announced the contracts for the Indian women’s cricket team, showcasing the board’s commitment to both genders in the sport.
While Iyer’s return to the central contract list seems imminent, the situation remains uncertain for Ishan Kishan. Both players were previously excluded from the central contracts for the 2023-24 season due to their absence from domestic matches, despite explicit directives from the BCCI. A source close to the matter revealed to TOI, “Shreyas is set to regain his contract, and it will be in a top category. However, discussions are still ongoing on whether in Ishan’s case.”
Iyer’s stellar performance in the recent 2025 Champions Trophy, where he amassed 243 runs in five matches at an average of 48.60, including two half-centuries, has solidified his position as a key player in India’s ODI lineup. In contrast, Kishan made headlines with a sensational debut for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL-2025, scoring an unbeaten 106 off just 47 balls against Rajasthan Royals on March 23.
The discussions will also address the status of India’s ODI and Test captain Rohit Sharma, superstar batsman Virat Kohli, and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. Despite their retirement from T20Is, a BCCI source confirmed that “all three will be retained in the highest A+ category, along with Jasprit Bumrah.” Rohit is set to lead India in their upcoming five-Test tour of England this summer.
Left-arm spinning all-rounder Axar Patel, who has risen to prominence and now serves as the vice-captain of India’s T20 side, is likely to be promoted from Grade B to Grade A. His pivotal roles in India’s two ICC title victories over the past two years underscore his growing importance to the team.
Another notable inclusion is “mystery spinner” Varun Chakravarthy, who made a triumphant return to the Indian team last October. His remarkable performance in the 2025 Champions Trophy, taking nine wickets in just three matches, has earned him his first BCCI central contract.
Young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy and opener Abhishek Sharma are also set to receive their maiden BCCI central contracts. Reddy impressed during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, playing all five Tests and scoring his first century in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Sharma, on the other hand, smashed a phenomenal 135 off just 54 balls against England in the fifth and final T20I at the Wankhede Stadium on February 2 this year.
Conversely, the name of former off-spinning great Ravichandran Ashwin will be removed from the list of centrally contracted players following his retirement during India’s tour of Australia last winter.