The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced its central contracts for the period October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025. A total of 34 players have been included in this year's contracts.
BCCI Central Contracts: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced its central contracts for the 2024-25 season. This year, the BCCI has included some new players in the central contracts, while some experienced players have been omitted. These changes signify important developments in Indian cricket, showcasing opportunities for new talent while indicating the departure of some established players.
New Faces in the Central Contracts
The BCCI has included five new players in this year's central contracts. These players have demonstrated exceptional performance recently and have been included in Grade C, receiving a contract of ₹1 crore each. The new faces include:
- Varun Chakravarthy: Varun Chakravarthy has been rewarded for his recent outstanding performances. He played a crucial role in India's Champions Trophy 2025 victory, claiming 9 wickets in three matches, showcasing his exceptional spin bowling skills.
- Harshit Rana: Harshit Rana also impressed with his bowling in the Champions Trophy 2025, taking four wickets and contributing significantly to India's wins in crucial matches. His performance has earned him a place in the central contracts.
- Abhishek Sharma: Abhishek Sharma has carved a niche for himself in T20I cricket. He has scored 535 runs in 17 T20 Internationals for India, including two centuries and two half-centuries. His explosive batting has earned him a place in the BCCI's central contracts.
- Nitish Kumar Reddy: Nitish Kumar Reddy's impressive performance on the Australia tour, scoring 298 runs and taking 5 wickets in five matches, has secured him a central contract. His contributions impressed the Indian selectors.
- Aakash Deep: Aakash Deep's excellent performance in Test cricket for India, claiming 15 wickets, has earned him a place in the BCCI's central contracts.
Players Excluded from the Central Contracts
While new faces have been added to the central contracts, five experienced players have been omitted. Some are sidelined due to injury or poor performance, while others have announced their retirement.
- Ravichandran Ashwin: Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement after the third Test against Australia in Gabba in December 2024. He is no longer playing for India in any format.
- Shardul Thakur: Shardul Thakur, a star all-rounder, has been sidelined since December 2023 due to injury and is currently playing for Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL.
- Avesh Khan: Avesh Khan last played for India in the series against South Africa in November 2024. Despite good IPL performances, he hasn't secured a consistent place in the Indian team.
- Jitesh Sharma: Jitesh Sharma, who debuted for India in 2024, played nine T20 matches but his performance didn't meet expectations.
- KS Bharat: KS Bharat, despite being a long-time member of the Indian team, hasn't performed up to expectations, particularly in his role as a wicket-keeper batsman.
Significance of the BCCI Central Contracts
The BCCI's central contracts provide Indian cricketers with significant recognition and financial security, rewarding their hard work and incentivizing continued performance in the national team. It also serves as a way to acknowledge player performance, enabling them to continue contributing to upcoming tournaments.
The inclusion of new players and exclusion of some experienced players in this year's central contracts marks a new era for Indian cricket. The upcoming season will see high expectations from these new players, while the omitted players will strive to regain their positions.
