The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the central contracts for the Indian women's cricket team for the 2024-25 season. While captain Harmanpreet Kaur, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, and all-rounder Deepti Sharma have retained their Grade A contracts, six players have suffered a major setback as they were excluded from the contract list.
6 Players Dropped from Central Contract
The following six players have been left out of the central contract this time:
- Meghna Singh
- Devika Vaidya
- S Meghna
- Anjali Sarwani
- Harleen Deol
- Rajeshwari Gayakwad
New Players Included in Central Contract
On the other hand, five young players have been awarded central contracts for the first time, showing the BCCI's trust in fresh talent:
- Shreyanka Patil (Off-spinner)
- Titas Sadhu (Fast bowler)
- Arundhati Reddy (Fast bowler)
- Amanjot Kaur (All-rounder)
- Uma Chetri (Wicketkeeper)
Breakdown of BCCI Women's Central Contracts
Grade A includes three players: Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, and Deepti Sharma. These players will receive ₹50 lakh annually.
Grade B consists of four players: Renuka Singh, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, and Shafali Verma. They will receive ₹30 lakh annually.
Grade C includes nine players: Yastika Bhatia, Radha Yadav, Sneh Rana, Pooja Vastrakar, Shreyanka Patil, Titas Sadhu, Arundhati Reddy, Amanjot Kaur, and Uma Chetri. These players will receive ₹10 lakh annually.
Additional Match Fees for Women’s Team
Apart from the central contract, players also receive match fees for international games:
- ₹15 lakh per Test match
- ₹6 lakh per ODI match
- ₹3 lakh per T20 match
Men’s Team Central Contract Yet to Be Announced
While the women's team contract has been finalized, the BCCI is yet to announce the men's team central contract for 2024-25. The salaries for male cricketers are significantly higher. Players in Grade A+ receive ₹7 crore, while those in Grade A, B, and C get ₹5 crore, ₹3 crore, and ₹1 crore, respectively.
What’s Next?
The women's team faces a crucial year ahead with the 2025 ODI World Cup to be played in India. If Team India wins the trophy on home soil, there is a possibility of higher rewards and incentives for the players in the future.
