BCCI Central Contracts 2025: Rishabh Pant Promoted, Shreyas Iyer & Ishan Kishan Return
Meta Description: BCCI reveals the 2025 central contract list featuring a promoted Rishabh Pant and comebacks for Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan. Get the full breakdown, category-wise player list, and analysis.
Introduction: Major Shake-Up in BCCI Central Contracts for 2025
In a move that has reignited discussions among cricket fans and analysts alike, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced its central contract list for 2025, bringing significant changes to player rankings and rewards.
The latest contracts reflect shifts in player performance, fitness returns, and long-term plans ahead of key tournaments like the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy and the 2026 T20 World Cup. Among the major highlights:
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Rishabh Pant makes a powerful return, being promoted to Grade A
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Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer, who were left out last year, make their way back
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Seven players, including Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel, are handed central contracts for the first time
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Big names like Shardul Thakur and Umran Malik miss out entirely
Let’s break down the list, analyze the major changes, and explore what this means for Indian cricket moving forward.
Category A+ Contracts: The Elite Four Remain Untouched
[Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja]
The Grade A+ bracket is reserved for the pillars of Indian cricket, and it sees no surprises this year.
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Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma continue their reign at the top with consistent performances and leadership.
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Jasprit Bumrah, fresh off a series of match-winning spells, remains India’s pace spearhead.
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Ravindra Jadeja holds his spot as the team’s premier all-rounder despite turning 36 this year.
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Rishabh Pant Promoted to Grade A: A Heroic Comeback Story
From a horrific car accident in late 2022 to returning as a match-winner in 2024-25, Rishabh Pant’s journey is nothing short of inspirational. Now, the BCCI has recognized his impact by promoting him from Grade B to Grade A.
Who Else is in Grade A?
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Mohammed Shami
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Mohammed Siraj
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KL Rahul
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Shubman Gill
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Hardik Pandya
These are players crucial across formats or offering vital utility in leadership, bowling depth, or batting flexibility.
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Ishan Kishan & Shreyas Iyer Return in Grade B
After being excluded from the 2024 list, both Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer have staged a return:
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Iyer, who struggled with injuries and inconsistent form last season, now finds a place in Grade B, signaling confidence in his comeback.
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Kishan, the explosive wicketkeeper-batsman, lands in Grade C, likely due to limited appearances but promising IPL and domestic performances.
Other Grade B Players:
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Suryakumar Yadav
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Kuldeep Yadav
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Axar Patel
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Yashasvi Jaiswal
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Grade C: Youth Movement & First-Time Entrants
This category saw the most changes, including fresh names and some notable exclusions.
First-Time Entries Include:
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Dhruv Jurel
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Sarfaraz Khan
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Nitish Reddy
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Abhishek Sharma
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Varun Chakaravarthy
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Harshit Rana
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Akash Deep
Their inclusion speaks volumes about India’s next-gen cricket potential, especially in white-ball formats.
Notable Players Retained in Grade C:
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Sanju Samson
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Arshdeep Singh
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Ruturaj Gaikwad
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Tilak Verma
Excluded from 2025 Central Contracts:
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Shardul Thakur
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KS Bharat
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Avesh Khan
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Umran Malik
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Vijaykumar Vyshak
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Yash Dayal
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Full BCCI Central Contract List 2025
Grade A+:
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Rohit Sharma
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Virat Kohli
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Jasprit Bumrah
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Ravindra Jadeja
Grade A:
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Rishabh Pant (⬆ Promoted)
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Mohammed Shami
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Mohammed Siraj
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KL Rahul
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Shubman Gill
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Hardik Pandya
Grade B:
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Suryakumar Yadav
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Kuldeep Yadav
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Axar Patel
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Shreyas Iyer (⬅️ Returned)
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Yashasvi Jaiswal
Grade C:
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Rinku Singh
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Tilak Verma
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Ruturaj Gaikwad
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Sanju Samson
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Arshdeep Singh
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Prasidh Krishna
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Rajat Patidar
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Dhruv Jurel (🆕)
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Sarfaraz Khan (🆕)
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Ishan Kishan (⬅️ Returned)
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Abhishek Sharma (🆕)
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Varun Chakaravarthy (🆕)
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Akash Deep (🆕)
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Harshit Rana (🆕)
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Nitish Reddy (🆕)
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Washington Sundar
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Mukesh Kumar
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Ravi Bishnoi
FAQs About BCCI Central Contracts 2025
Who got promoted in the 2025 BCCI central contracts?
Rishabh Pant was promoted from Grade B to Grade A.
Which players returned to the contract list this year?
Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer were re-included after missing out last year.
How many new players were added to the list?
Seven players, including Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, and Harshit Rana, received contracts for the first time.
Who are the A+ grade players in 2025?
Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja.
Why were Umran Malik and Shardul Thakur dropped?
They had limited international impact in 2024 and failed to maintain consistency or fitness.
Conclusion: A Bold Vision for Indian Cricket’s Future
The 2025 BCCI central contracts reflect both meritocracy and future vision. With veterans continuing to anchor the side, and young blood being integrated gradually, the BCCI is clearly investing in the next decade of Indian cricket.
Fans will be watching closely to see if players like Pant, Iyer, and Kishan can live up to their renewed contracts and if young guns like Jurel and Sarfaraz convert promise into performances.
📢 What’s Your Take?
Are these the right moves by the BCCI? Who deserved to be included but missed out? Drop your thoughts in the comments and don’t forget to subscribe for updates on India’s cricket team, contract changes, and player performances.
👉 For a deeper dive into Indian cricket strategy and selection trends, check out our player analysis blog.