Contrary to widespread media reports, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) did not hold its scheduled high-level meeting on Saturday, March 30, to finalize the central contracts for the Indian men’s team. According to a top BCCI source, “All decisions have been deferred,” confirming that no formal meeting took place between chief selector Ajit Agarkar, head coach Gautam Gambhir, and BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia in Guwahati as previously believed.
While discussions around player gradings and the tenure of the Indian coaching staff were expected, no concrete steps have been taken as of now. Interestingly, the BCCI had already announced the 2024–25 player retainership last week, raising speculation about minor revisions rather than a complete overhaul.
Gambhir, recently back from an overseas holiday, was reportedly in Delhi on Saturday, while no travel activity was confirmed for Ajit Agarkar to Guwahati. Although selectors have been present in Assam for IPL scouting, no official selection meeting was conducted.
Expected changes include the return of Shreyas Iyer to the central contracts after serving a domestic duty-related exclusion and the exit of Ravichandran Ashwin, who retired from international cricket. Varun Chakaravarthy, after playing 4 ODIs and 12 T20Is over the past year, is eligible for a Grade C contract based on BCCI’s automatic inclusion criteria.
The Grade C category, which saw 15 players last season, may undergo minor reshuffling, while the top brackets—A+ (4 players), A (6), and B (5)—are expected to remain mostly unchanged.
A formal review of the coaching staff’s performance is also on the cards and will be conducted once the postponed meeting is rescheduled.
