Top Indian Cricket Stars Hold Steady as BCCI Rolls Out 2024-25 Central Contracts
The BCCI central contracts for 2024-25 are out, and at first glance, there aren’t big surprises at the very top. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja once again find themselves in the elite A+ grade, each earning a hefty ₹7 crore annually. This top bracket is still the smallest, with just four players—mirroring last year and leaving little doubt about who rules Indian cricket right now.
The A+ grade is a nod to their relevance in all formats. Rohit’s leadership, Kohli’s enduring run-scoring, Bumrah’s game-changing spells, and Jadeja’s all-round grit have kept them at the core of every squad. For fans and players both, the numbers are plain: these four are the benchmarks for international success—and as long as they’re in form, this won’t change soon.
Salary Tiers Reveal a Blend of Experience and Ambition
Right below the top level, the Grade A contract (₹5 crore) features familiar faces: KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, Rishabh Pant, and Mohammed Siraj. Grade A skips the drama—each of these names has carried India with either bat or ball over the past year. From Gill’s top-order promise to Pant’s fearless finishing (and now, comeback from injury), this group is stacked with players who’ve proven their place, but just haven’t broken through to that untouchable A+ club yet.
Grade B (₹3 crore) sparks a little more debate. Shreyas Iyer, who was missing from last year’s group, returns—a signal that selectors still see promise despite his up-and-down run. Alongside him are Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel, two names that turn heads. Both were major parts of India’s recent ICC T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy triumphs, but their roles—despite being pivotal—haven’t boosted them to Grade A. That’s BCCI for you: on-field heroics matter, but central contracts hinge on consistent appearances across all formats.
In Grade B, you’ll also find Suryakumar Yadav and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who continue to show flashes of brilliance. The BCCI seems to be sending a clear message: sustain performance over time, and you’ll rise. Drop off or shift formats, and you can slip down just as fast.
The Grade C bracket (₹1 crore) shines a light on the future. Newcomers Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Abhishek Sharma, and Varun Chakaravarthy represent a growing trust in youth and IPL-proven talent. Ishan Kishan shows up here, marking his way back into the central squads after a rocky few months.
- Grade A+ (₹7 crore): Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja
- Grade A (₹5 crore): KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, Rishabh Pant, Mohammed Siraj
- Grade B (₹3 crore): Shreyas Iyer, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Suryakumar Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Grade C (₹1 crore): Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Abhishek Sharma, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ishan Kishan
By sticking with a familiar core at the top and pulling in new faces at the base, the BCCI’s approach is pretty clear. They want stability and experience where it matters, and they’re not shy about fast-tracking fresh talent when they see potential. Whether this balance pays off in the long run (especially with upcoming tournaments and the World Cup on the horizon) will depend on how these players perform, both on the pitch and in the dressing room. For now, the message is set—perform, adapt, and there’s a spot (and a paycheck) waiting for you.
