The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly set to delay the announcement of central contracts for the men’s cricket team until October 2025, as per a report by The Times of India. While it was initially anticipated that the contracts would be released in April, fresh discussions and evaluations have pushed the decision back.
The current contracts, which lapsed in mid-2024, are yet to be renewed. Traditionally, BCCI’s central contracts follow an October-to-September cycle. However, that timeline has been missed on multiple occasions in recent years. The report adds that the board intends to hold discussions with the selectors and newly-appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir before finalising the list.
A key reason for the delay appears to be uncertainty surrounding the future of senior players like Rohit Sharma. The board is expected to carefully evaluate performances over the 2023-24 season, in which India won the T20 World Cup and remained consistent in other formats. Sources suggest that players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja should not be downgraded in the central contracts.
The BCCI is also reportedly planning to reduce the size of the team’s support staff, which will be another point of discussion when the contracts are reviewed.
Meanwhile, India is scheduled to tour England for a Test series after IPL 2025, and it remains unclear whether Rohit Sharma will continue as captain for the red-ball side.
