The BCCI is considering a major change to its central-contract system that could make how regularly Indian players are available for selection a factor in whether they qualify for an annual contract, according to a report by Sports Tak.
The proposal remains at an early stage, with the board examining whether availability should be measured through a minimum number of matches or as a percentage of India’s fixtures across a season. No threshold has been determined and the potential change has not been formally approved.
BCCI weighs season-long availability measure
Under the system being considered, a player’s availability could be monitored throughout the season before the BCCI finalises its next set of central contracts.
A Top BCCI Source told Sports Tak: “The discussion is on regarding the idea. For the next central contract, players’ availability for the whole season could be monitored. The complete formula will be worked out, including how many matches a player must be available for to be offered a central contract.”
The potential addition would introduce another consideration into the central-contract process alongside player performance. The board is examining the proposal at a time when injuries have resulted in several India players missing matches in recent months.
Injuries put player availability in focus
Jasprit Bumrah is among the Indian players who have recently spent time unavailable through injury. The fast bowler is set to return to international cricket for the T20I series against Afghanistan after recovering from a left knee injury sustained while fielding during the second ODI against England in Cardiff in July.
Harshit Rana has also encountered fitness problems and was ruled out of both the Afghanistan series and the Asian Games after suffering a fresh hamstring injury during a fitness test at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence.
The proposed framework has yet to establish how such periods of injury would be treated. The board has also not determined the number or proportion of matches a player would need to be available for under any eventual eligibility requirement.
No final decision on central contract change
The current discussions do not amount to a confirmed alteration of the BCCI’s contract policy, with the feasibility of an availability-based criterion still to be assessed.
The source added: “As of now, nothing has been formalised. Going forward, it will be assessed whether this idea is applicable or not.”
India’s current men’s central-contract cycle covers October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026. Shubman Gill, Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja are in Grade A, while Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are among those in Grade B.
Whether availability ultimately becomes a formal requirement will depend on the BCCI’s assessment of the proposal and the formula it chooses if the idea progresses. For now, neither a minimum match requirement nor an availability percentage has been finalised for the next central-contract cycle.
