The Shakeup in BCCI Women’s Central Contracts for 2024-25
The BCCI just shook up its central contracts for women’s cricket and it’s clear who’s at the top of their game. Leading the pack in women's cricket are captain Harmanpreet Kaur, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, and the ever-reliable Deepti Sharma. All three stay in the Grade A bracket, bringing home a cool ₹50 lakh for the year. They’re not just earning the most—they’re setting the benchmark for Indian women’s cricket just a year before the ICC Women's World Cup comes to India.
So, what about the next rung? Grade B spots, worth ₹30 lakh a year, went to some really familiar faces. Renuka Singh Thakur continues to lead the pace attack, while batters Jemimah Rodrigues and Shafali Verma remain fan favorites for their fearless game. You’ve also got wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh holding steady in this bracket. Each of these players proved their worth in recent international outings, maintaining the sharpness you need on the road to the World Cup.
Room for Rising Stars and Notable Omissions
Let’s talk Grade C—this tier has seen the most movement. Five names pop up for the very first time: Shreyanka Patil, Titas Sadhu, Arundhati Reddy, Amanjot Kaur, and Uma Chetry. These youngsters have turned heads at the domestic level and squeezed themselves into the national conversation by grabbing wickets or saving matches under pressure. Not all fresh faces, though—Sneh Rana’s all-round skills, Pooja Vastrakar’s pace, Radha Yadav’s spin, and Yastika Bhatia’s runs keep them in the Grade C fold, at ₹10 lakh a year. It’s BCCI’s way of keeping an eye on who could power the next generation.
But every list has its surprises. Rajeshwari Gayakwad, a big name in Indian spin, misses out on Grade B after not getting regular match time lately. Her exclusion points to the ruthlessness you need to stay on top in this setup. The contracts don’t just reward stardom—they’re about who delivers, who stays fit, and who makes themselves crucial to the team’s success.
Reading between the lines, BCCI is doubling down on rewarding consistent performers while also fast-tracking exciting new names. With the 2025 World Cup coming to Indian soil, it’s not about being sentimental. It’s about having a squad that can handle the hard moments when the world’s watching—and these contracts prove exactly where the confidence lies.