Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, Apr 21: Indian cricket icons Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have retained their top-tier A+ central contracts for the 2024–25 season, despite stepping away from T20Is. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed this on Monday while announcing the annual retainership list.

Joining them in the elite bracket are Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja. Each A+ contracted player earns Rs 7 cr annually, excluding match fees and bonuses.

Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan, dropped last year for skipping domestic matches, have been brought back into the fold Shreyas in grade B and Kishan in grade C. Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant has been promoted to grade A, taking the spot left by the now-retired Ravichandran Ashwin.

Several young players, including Nitish Kumar Reddy, Dhruv Jurel, and Sarfaraz Khan, have been added to the grade C category, reflecting BCCI’s focus on emerging talent. Notably, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma, KS Bharath, and Avesh Khan have been left out of the list altogether.

In total, 34 players have been awarded contracts for the season covering October 1, 2024, to September 30. The list highlights a balance between experience and fresh potential, as Indian cricket continues its transition phase.