The Board of Control Cricket in India (BCCI) is about release the latest ‘Central Contract’ for 2025-26 in which the list of players would be selected on the basis of merit (Performance). The Indian board is set to make some changes in the upcoming contract as some new players might get chance as well as old players might get retained.
Fate Of These Players On The Line
We often discuss that whether this player should get retained or not, when we see it in practical, it is totally based on performances. If any level of player is not performing well for Team India, then that player might get excluded from the list.
Player To Comeback
The no.4 batter Shreyas Iyer, who had a great domestic season and played a pivotal role in India’s conquest in the Champions Trophy 2025 is ready to make a comeback after making pile of runs. Recently, Iyer also won the ‘ICC Player Of The Month’ award.
Congratulations to @ShreyasIyer15 who has been awarded the ICC Men's Player of the Month for his exceptional performance in the Champions Trophy 👏👏
This is his second ICC Player of the Month award.#TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/JktVCySXNK---Advertisement---— BCCI (@BCCI) April 15, 2025
Veterans Under the Scanner
Star players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and even someone like Ravindra Jadeja, who have served India well over the years, could face demotion if the board sticks strictly to recent international performance. Injuries have also played spoilsport for some, and BCCI might take that into account, but even patience has a limit.
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Young Blood on the Rise
Meanwhile, youngsters like Abhishek Sharma, Harshit Rana, and Varun Chakaravarthy are making a strong case for themselves. Their inclusion would reflect BCCI’s long-term vision and the importance of building a core for the next World Cup cycle. It wouldn’t be surprising to see a few of these names entering the central contract list for the first time.
What’s at Stake?
For the players, being part of the central contract is not just about the money, it’s about recognition, security, and being in the mix for national selection. Losing a contract could mean falling down the pecking order, while gaining one sends a strong signal that a player is firmly in the team’s plans.
All in all, the 2025–26 contract list will not just be a piece of news, it’ll be a reflection of India’s cricketing priorities and a statement of intent from the board. With a busy international calendar ahead, including major ICC events, BCCI’s choices now could shape the team’s fortunes for years to come.
The Current List of BCCI Central Contract
Grade A+
Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja.
Grade A
R Ashwin (Retired), Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya.
Grade B
Surya Kumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Grade C
Rinku Singh, Tilak Verma, Ruturaj Gaekwad, Shardul Thakur, Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi, Jitesh Sharma, Washington Sundar, Mukesh Kumar, Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh, KS Bharat, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan and Rajat Patidar.
