Overview:
In April last year, the 2024-25 central contract list was revealed, with Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah earning spots in the A+ category.
The BCCI is reportedly planning to phase out the A+ Grade and introduce a revised system for central contracts, according to various reports.
Ajit Agarkar’s selection committee has recommended modifying the central contract structure, with a proposal to remove the A+ grade completely. Players in this category currently receive INR 7 crore. More details about whether the BCCI will approve this revised structure and the impact on player salaries are anticipated at the next apex council meeting.
BCCI sources suggest that if the central contract changes are implemented, former captains Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma might be relegated to Grade B. Under the present structure, players in Grade A receive INR 5 crore, Grade B players earn INR 3 crore, and those in Grade C get INR 1 crore. Match fees are paid separately and are not part of these figures.
The C Grade includes 19 players, namely Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Tilak Verma, Ruturaj Gaikwad,Ravi Bishnoi, Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh, Washington Sundar, Mukesh Kumar, Prasidh Krishna, Rajat Patidar, Ishan Kishan, Dhruv Jurel, Sarfaraz Khan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Abhishek Sharma, Akash Deep, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Harshit Rana.
India’s upcoming assignment is the five-match T20I series against New Zealand, which begins on Wednesday, January 21. This will be followed by the much-anticipated T20 World Cup.
In April last year, the 2024-25 central contract list was revealed, with Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah earning spots in the A+ category. The Grade A players included Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, Rishabh Pant, and the current Indian Test and ODI captain, Shubman Gill.
India will begin their next series with a five-match T20I clash against New Zealand starting January 21, before turning their focus to the eagerly awaited T20 World Cup.