The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has released its latest central contract list for the 2024-25 season, bringing some significant changes. While some players have seen their careers take a step forward, others have taken a step back.
Players Who Took a Step Back
Four players were demoted or dropped from the central contract list. These include fast bowler Shardul Thakur, who hasn’t played for India since December 2023. He was previously in Grade C but didn’t make the cut this time. Two wicketkeepers, Jitesh Sharma and KS Bharat, also lost their Grade C spots.
Another fast bowler, Avesh Khan, last played for India in May 2024. Despite taking 35 wickets in 33 international matches, he was left out of the central contract list.
The four players who lost their central contracts are:
- Avesh Khan
- Shardul Thakur
- Jitesh Sharma
- KS Bharat
New Faces in Grade C
Grade C of the BCCI central contract list now has 19 players. With Avesh Khan, Jitesh Sharma, KS Bharat, and Shardul Thakur out, four new players took their places. They are Harshit Rana, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Varun Chakravarthy. Players in Grade C get ₹1 crore annually from the BCCI.
The top Grade A+ remains unchanged, with players like Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja still at the top.