BCCI Annual Player Contracts: Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan back; Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, two more in A-plus category

BCCI Annual Player Contracts: Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan back; Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, two more in A-plus category (BCCI Photo)

BCCI annual player contracts: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the annual player contracts for Team India (Senior Men) for the 2024-25 season (October 1, 2024 to September 30 2025) on Monday. Shreyas Iyer, who appears to have solve India's long standing No. 4 conondrum, makes a return along with Ishan Kishan. Both players had lost their central contracts previously. Iyer finds his name in the Grade B category, while Ishan is placed in the Grade C category.

Meanwhile, only four players have been kept in the A+ category - Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja. Also a number of upcoming talents such as Rajat Patidar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana have also been handed their maiden contracts.

BCCI announces annual player retainership 2024-25 - Team India (Senior Men)#TeamIndiaDetails https://t.co/lMjl2Ici3P pic.twitter.com/CsJHaLSeho
BCCI (@BCCI) April 21, 2025

Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, on the other hand, has been upgraded to A category.

The contracts are divided in four categories - A+, A, B, C - and players are placed on the basis of their performance and participation across formats. Speculations were rife of Kohli, Rohit, and Jadeja being excluded from the A+ category, following their retirements from the T20Is. The players placed in the A+ category receive an annual salary of Rs 7 crore.

Meanwhile, both Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer had lost their contracts due to disciplinary issues. Iyer has since made a return to the Indian team and was part of the ODI setup in the series against England and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The middle-order batter had a splendid tournament and finished as India's highest scorer and second overall after New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra. He accumulated 243 runs from five matches at a healthy average of 48.60 and has carried the form in the ongoing Indian Premier League, where he leads the Punjab Kings franchise.

Kishan, however, is yet to make an appearance in Indian colours since losing his contract.