Indian cricket superstars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are set to retain their A+ grade contracts, worth Rs 7 crore, in the BCCI‘s annual player contracts. Despite retiring from T20 internationals, both players will continue in the elite A+ category.
Shreyas Iyer, India’s leading run-scorer in the recent Champions Trophy, is expected to make his return to the central contract list. “Wicketkeeper batter Ishan Kishan, who was notably excluded alongside Iyer last year, still has to wait for his return in central contracts,” sources told IANS.
All-rounder Axar Patel, who played a crucial role in India’s dominant campaigns in the T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy, is also in line for a promotion. Additionally, emerging talents Varun Chakaravarthy, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Abhishek Sharma, who have impressed across formats over the past year, have strong chances of earning their first-ever central contracts.
The BCCI recently announced the annual retainers for the India senior women’s team for the 2024/25 cycle. Meanwhile, discussions surrounding the men’s team retainers are ongoing. A meeting between Ajit Agarkar, chairman of the senior men’s selection committee, and BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia was initially scheduled to take place in Guwahati on Saturday but was postponed.
This meeting was expected to address two key issues: the annual retainers for the men’s team and the selection process for both the India ‘A’ and senior squads for the upcoming England tour. Following the conclusion of the Indian Premier League, India will begin a five-match Test series against England at Headingley starting June 20. This series marks India’s first red-ball assignment since losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to Australia 3-1. India last secured a Test series victory in England back in 2007.
