The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday announced its central contract list for the 2024-25 season, featuring a total of 34 players across four distinct grades: A+, A, B, and C. The unveiling of the contract list brought several key takeaways, most notably the inclusion of seven players who have earned their maiden central contracts, signaling a focus on rewarding emerging talent and recent strong performances.

Abhishek Sharma among the fresh faces to receive a BCCI central contract

Among the fresh faces on the list, explosive left-handed batsman Abhishek Sharma stands out, securing a Grade C contract which comes with an annual retainer fee of INR 1 crore. Abhishek’s inclusion is a testament to his remarkable form across domestic and international circuits. The 24-year-old had a stellar run in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, where his aggressive batting was instrumental in Sunrisers Hyderabad reaching the final. He amassed 484 runs in the season, showcasing his ability to provide quick starts and dominate bowling attacks.

Abhishek Sharma rewarded for his performance in international cricket

Abhishek’s international performances have also been impactful. A significant highlight was his blistering knock of 135 off just 54 balls against England in Mumbai in February 2025. This innings was particularly memorable for the 13 sixes he struck, the most by an Indian batter in a T20 International innings. His overall T20I record is equally impressive, with 535 runs in 16 innings at a striking average of 33.43 and a phenomenal strike rate of 193.84. This includes two centuries and two half-centuries, underscoring his consistency in the shortest format. Carrying his form into IPL 2025, the left-handed batter has already scored 232 runs in seven matches, featuring a high score of 141, which stands as the highest individual IPL score by an Indian batter this season.

Also READ: Here are the Indian players excluded from BCCI’s central contract list for 2024–25

Other notable players to receive a BCCI central contract for the first time

Apart from Abhishek, six other players have been awarded their first-ever BCCI central contracts. These include promising all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, fast bowler Harshit Rana, wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, middle-order batter Sarfaraz Khan, pacer Akash Deep, and mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy.

Nitish Reddy’s inclusion in the contract list comes on the back of his significant strides in Test cricket. He featured in all five Tests of the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia, fulfilling one of the BCCI’s criteria for central contract eligibility.

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