The BCCI has rolled out its central contract list for the 2024–25 season, and it has brought good news for seven new players. These rising stars have been included in the central contract for the very first time, instantly making them annual crorepatis in Indian cricket.

Who Are These 7 First-Time Central Contract Holders?

Here are the names of the players who’ve received their maiden BCCI central contracts:

• Dhruv Jurel
• Sarfaraz Khan
• Nitish Kumar Reddy
• Abhishek Sharma
• Akashdeep
• Varun Chakravarthy
• Harshit Rana

All seven have been placed in Grade C, which entitles them to a salary of ₹1 crore annually, apart from other perks like medical coverage, travel allowance, and access to BCCI's Centre of Excellence.

Why They Were Chosen

To be eligible for the central contract, a player must have featured in at least 3 Tests, 8 ODIs, or 10 T20Is — though some flexibility is sometimes applied, as seen in Harshit Rana's case. Here's a quick look at their international experience:

• Dhruv Jurel: 4 Tests
• Sarfaraz Khan: 6 Tests
• Abhishek Sharma: 17 T20Is
• Nitish Kumar Reddy: Has impressed with all-round domestic and IPL performance
• Akashdeep: 7 Tests
• Varun Chakravarthy: 4 ODIs, 12 T20Is
• Harshit Rana: 2 Tests, 5 ODIs, 1 T20I (eligible under combined match count rule)

A Big Step Toward Stardom

With this inclusion, these young players are not only financially rewarded but also recognized as integral to India's cricketing future. While they're in the early stages of their international careers, the central contract is a strong vote of confidence from BCCI, signaling that these are players to watch out for.