The BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) recently shared the list of players who have been given Central Contracts for 2025. A total of 34 players have been included in this year’s contract list. Big names like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah are once again part of the top category, even after some recent changes in their T20 roles.
At the same time, players like Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan, who were dropped earlier, have made a comeback into the contract list. This year, Rishabh Pant has also got a promotion, moving up in the contract categories.
Let’s understand in simple words how the BCCI selects players for the Central Contract, how many types of contracts are there, and how much salary players get based on these contracts.
What is the BCCI Central Contract?
The Central Contract is a system where the BCCI gives fixed annual salaries to selected Indian players. These contracts are given based on performance, consistency, and importance to the team. It is BCCI’s way of rewarding players and giving them financial security.
How Many Categories Are There in BCCI Contract?
BCCI divides the players into four categories:
- A+ Category: ₹7 crore per year
- A Category: ₹5 crore per year
- B Category: ₹3 crore per year
- C Category: ₹1 crore per year
Each category shows the player’s seniority, match impact, and role across formats. Players in A+ are the most valuable across all formats.
What Are the Rules to Get a BCCI Contract?
The BCCI follows a set rule for giving these contracts. A player must meet at least one of the following conditions in the past year to be eligible:
- Played at least 3 Test matches, or
- Played at least 8 ODIs, or
- Played at least 10 T20 Internationals
So even if a player is not part of the Test team but plays regular ODIs and T20s, he can still get a Central Contract. Performance, fitness, discipline, and availability also matter.
Players in BCCI Central Contract 2025
Here is the full list of players as per their categories in the 2025 BCCI Central Contract:
A+ Category (₹7 crore)
- Rohit Sharma
- Virat Kohli
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Ravindra Jadeja
These players are considered the backbone of the Indian cricket team. They play across formats and are senior, consistent performers.
A Category (₹5 crore)
- KL Rahul
- Hardik Pandya
- Mohammed Shami
- Mohammad Siraj
- Shubman Gill
- Rishabh Pant
Most of these players are key in either ODIs or Tests and are regular starters when fit.
B Category (₹3 crore)
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Akshar Patel
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Shreyas Iyer
These players have shown strong performances but are still not fully established across all formats.
C Category (₹1 crore)
- 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
- Akash Deep
- Varun Chakravarthy
- Harshit Rana
This category mostly includes new or young players, promising talents, and those who have performed in a few matches but are yet to become regular members of the team.
Why Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma Are Still in A+ Even After T20 Retirement
Even though Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli announced retirement from T20 Internationals, their spot in the A+ category remains unchanged. That’s because they are still important in Tests and ODIs, and have a big impact on Indian cricket. Their performances and experience continue to add value to the team.
How Players Are Promoted or Dropped from Contract
The BCCI reviews performance every year. If a player is injured for long, out of form, or not selected regularly, they can be dropped from the list.
Players can also be promoted if they perform well, become key members of the team, or play across formats. For example, Rishabh Pant, after recovering from his injury, has been promoted this year based on expectations of his return and impact.
What Happens If a Player Is Not in the Central Contract?
Not getting a Central Contract doesn’t mean the player is out of the Indian team. Many players play for India without having a contract. They still get match fees per game:
- ₹15 lakh for each Test match
- ₹6 lakh for each ODI
- ₹3 lakh for each T20
But being in the Central Contract gives extra financial stability and recognition.
Why the Central Contract Matters for Players and Fans
The Central Contract system ensures top players stay focused and loyal to Indian cricket. It also builds a sense of security and reward for hard work. For fans, it gives a good idea of who the selectors and board trust the most in the long term.
The BCCI Central Contract list also reflects the future direction of Indian cricket—who is rising, who is stable, and who may need to work harder for a comeback.
