The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) usually makes an announcement about its annual retainership around April each year. This time around, there are some interesting updates in the mix, like the potential return of Shreyas Iyer. You might remember that he wasn’t part of the list last year thanks to some controversies, but after his great performances in both domestic and international cricket lately, it seems like he might make a comeback.
Iyer had quite a remarkable role in India’s journey during the Champions Trophy in 2025. He scored some important runs that helped India clinch back-to-back ICC titles in the 50-over format. But before we look ahead, let’s break down what these BCCI annual retainerships are really about.
Essentially, the BCCI sets up a system of central contracts that rewards senior men’s cricketers based on how well they play and how much they contribute to cricket in India. Players are sorted into four categories: A+, A, B, and C, depending on their performance. Last year, 30 players received these contracts from the BCCI, which shows just how competitive it is.
Now, if you’re under a BCCI contract, the board takes good care of you. For instance, if a player gets injured, they can go to the National Cricket Academy for recovery without any costs. On top of that, players also receive travel reimbursements and can train at the excellent facilities available at the Centre of Excellence located in Bengaluru.
Alright, so how much do these centrally contracted players actually make? Here’s the breakdown:
| Grade | Annual Salary (INR) |
|---|---|
| Grade | Annual Salary (INR) |
| A+ Category | RS 7 Crore |
| A Category | RS 5 Crore |
| B Category | RS 3 Crore |
| C Category | RS 1 Crore |
When it comes to match fees for the Indian team, it goes like this:
| Match Format | Match Fees (INR per match) |
|---|---|
| Match Format | Match Fees (INR per match) |
| Test Match | RS 15 Lakh |
| ODI Match | RS 6 Lakh |
| T20I Match | RS 3 Lakh |
Now, let’s talk about who is eligible for these central contracts. To get one, a player needs to have taken part in at least 3 Test matches, or 8 ODIs, or 10 T20I matches. Just having one of those criteria checked off is enough to earn a spot on the retainership list.
Looking at the players with BCCI contracts for the 2023-24 season, it’s quite a lineup:
– In the A+ category, we have big names like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja.
– The A category includes players like R Ashwin, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Hardik Pandya.
– Those in the B category are Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
– Finally, the C category features Rinku Singh, Tilak Verma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shardul Thakur, Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi, and a few others like Sanju Samson and Arshdeep Singh among them.
So, as we wait for the BCCI to reveal this year’s contracts, it’s clear that there’s a lot at stake for players, and it’s exciting to see how the landscape of Indian cricket continues to evolve.
