BCCI Annual Contracts: Jemimah Rodrigues Elevated to Grade A; Patil, Vastrakar Miss Out

The BCCI has announced its women’s central contract list for 2025–26, with Jemimah Rodrigues earning a major promotion to Grade A following her exceptional World Cup-winning performances. The new structure shows strong movement in the mid-tier grades, while some established names have missed out entirely.

Top Summary

What happened: BCCI released the women’s central contracts for 2025–26, promoting Jemimah Rodrigues to Grade A.

Why it matters now: Rodrigues’ elevation reflects her match-winning performances during India’s historic women’s World Cup victory.

What changes for people: Promotions and omissions reshape India’s women’s cricket pay and performance expectations for the upcoming season.

Who is affected: Rodrigues, Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, Anusha Reddy, and others promoted; Shraddha Patil and Pooja Vastrakar miss out.

Rodrigues’ rise to Grade A caps a brilliant year, where she delivered clutch innings and played a central role in India’s first-ever Women’s World Cup triumph.

Grade A: Rodrigues joins the elite list

Jemimah Rodrigues’ consistent run, finishing as one of India’s most valuable performers in 2024–25, secured her a place in the top bracket.

Her resilient batting, strike rotation, and finishing ability were crucial in high-pressure games, setting her apart as a core member of India’s batting group.

Grade B sees major reshuffle

Significant upward movement marks Grade B this year:

Promoted to Grade B

Radha Yadav

Amanjot Kaur

Anusha Reddy

Their elevation reflects consistent domestic and international performances, as well as their role in India’s depth-building ahead of upcoming ICC events.

New entrants to Grade B

Rawal

Gaud

Chetry

These players impressed through strong domestic circuits and developmental tours, proving the depth of India’s women’s ecosystem.

Players who missed out

Two notable omissions this year:

Shraddha Patil

Pooja Vastrakar

Vastrakar’s exclusion is especially surprising given her experience, though inconsistent form and injuries may have influenced the decision.

What this means for India’s women’s cricket

The new contract list marks:

A generational shift

Greater reward for domestic performers

Emphasis on match-winning impact in ICC events

Continued investment in a young, aggressive core

It also signals the BCCI’s intent to strengthen bench strength through structured pay pathways.