Shreyas Iyer to Return to BCCI Central Contracts; Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma Retained in A+ Category: Report

Shreyas Iyer, who was notably left out of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) central contracts last year, is set to be included in the revised annual contracts for the upcoming season. Iyer’s exclusion last year stemmed from his failure to comply with the BCCI’s domestic cricket directive, which required players to participate in domestic competitions. Despite his absence from the contracts in 2024, Iyer's stellar performances for India, including his key role in India’s ICC Champions Trophy-winning campaign earlier this year, have helped him secure his spot in the new central contract list.

IYER'S FORM AND IMPACT

Shreyas Iyer had an outstanding run during the home ODI World Cup in 2023, where he was among India’s top performers. His most notable contribution came in the ICC Champions Trophy in February, where he finished as India’s highest run-scorer with 243 runs from five matches. On the domestic front, Iyer showcased his consistency, accumulating 480 runs in the Ranji Trophy, averaging 68.57, and posting an impressive strike rate of 90.22. His performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy was also notable, as he finished as the fourth-highest run-scorer with 345 runs from nine matches. Additionally, his remarkable form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he scored 325 runs in just five matches, saw him averaging an astounding 325.00.

IYER'S RETURN TO CENTRAL CONTRACTS

Sources within the BCCI have confirmed that Iyer will be included in the central contracts this year. According to ANI, the BCCI plans to reinstate Iyer, acknowledging his contributions in various formats and his solid performances both for India and in domestic cricket. Iyer’s return to the fold marks a redemption of sorts after his absence from the contract list in 2024.

KOHLI AND ROHIT SHARMA TO RETAIN A+ STATUS

In other developments, cricketing legends Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are set to maintain their positions in the A+ category of the BCCI central contracts, despite both announcing their retirements from T20I cricket. The A+ category generally includes players who participate in all three formats—Test, ODI, and T20I. Kohli and Rohit have been retained in this prestigious category, demonstrating the BCCI’s recognition of their immense contribution to Indian cricket, both past and present.

The A+ category has typically been reserved for the country’s top players, and last year, it was extended to only a few elite players, including Kohli, Rohit, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah.

PERFORMANCE REVIEWS AND ONGOING RESPECT FOR KOHLI AND ROHIT

Despite both players stepping away from T20Is, Kohli and Rohit will continue to receive the respect they deserve. Kohli, despite some challenges with form, remains a highly influential player in the longer formats. Rohit, on the other hand, has been going through a lean patch in recent times, with struggles in the Test format. His recent performances in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and against New Zealand were underwhelming, contributing just 91 runs from three Test matches in the home series and averaging a mere 15.17.

Rohit's form has been a topic of discussion, with some critics pointing to his declining performances in Test cricket, particularly in the series against Australia and Bangladesh. In the Australia Test series, he managed only 31 runs in five innings, averaging a low 6.20. Similarly, his performance in the home Test series against New Zealand was disappointing, contributing only 42 runs in two matches.

Virat Kohli’s recent form has also come under scrutiny. In the 2024 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, he could only manage 190 runs in 10 innings. Kohli’s overall performance in 2023 was somewhat underwhelming, ending the year with just 655 international runs from 23 matches and 32 innings, averaging 21.83. Despite these struggles, Kohli remains one of India’s most prominent cricketing figures.

CONCLUSION

While the performance of Kohli and Rohit in recent months has been a subject of criticism, the BCCI’s decision to retain them in the A+ category underlines their significant stature in Indian cricket. At the same time, Shreyas Iyer’s return to the central contracts reflects his growth as a key player for India, despite his earlier exclusion. It will be interesting to see how these players perform in the upcoming season and whether they can rediscover their best form.