New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is all set to announce its Central Contract List for 2025. The board has delayed the announcement this year due to the Champions Trophy 2025, as they wanted to assess the players’ performances before finalizing the list. Last year, the contract list was released in February, but this time, it has been postponed. Several players who were included in last year’s contract list might be dropped due to their lack of participation in international matches.

Players Who Might Be Dropped from BCCI’s Central Contract List

Several notable players are expected to miss out on a BCCI central contract this year, including Avesh Khan, Rajat Patidar, and KS Bharat. Last year, all three players were placed in the Grade C category, but their limited appearances in international matches might cost them a spot this time.

  • Rajat Patidar, despite being one of the top scorers in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, did not get a place in the India vs. England T20I series. Even though he is set to captain RCB in IPL 2025, he may not make it to the BCCI contract list.
  • Avesh Khan, who played six T20I matches in 2024, taking six wickets, has not featured in an ODI since 2023. Due to this, his contract might be revoked.
  • KS Bharat, who played his last international match in February 2024, is also likely to be excluded from the BCCI contract list.

Shardul Thakur and R Ashwin’s Future in BCCI Contracts

  • Shardul Thakur could also be left out of the contract list, despite his impressive performances in the Ranji Trophy. He might still get a chance to play in the India vs. England Test series in June, but his spot in the BCCI contract list remains uncertain.
  • Ravichandran Ashwin is expected to be removed from the list as he has announced his retirement from international cricket.

Shreyas Iyer Likely to Make a Comeback

One of the biggest exclusions from last year’s contract list was Shreyas Iyer. He was dropped due to not taking domestic cricket seriously. However, after his outstanding performance in the Champions Trophy 2025, he is expected to be included in the BCCI central contract list this year.