Jemimah Rodrigues’ name sits alongside Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma in the BCCI’s freshly-released central contracts for 2025-26. It is her first time in Grade A and, given that semi-final hundred against Australia and the way she ran the chase in the final, few inside the group are surprised.
“The contracts reflect what the players did for India over the last twelve months,” a brief BCCI statement read. No figures were published, though the board has kept the same bands for three seasons now: Grade A roughly INR 50 lakh, Grade B INR 30 lakh, Grade C INR 10 lakh.
Rodrigues was understandably pleased. “I wanted to back up the World Cup with consistent performances. Getting that recognition from the board feels special,” she said on a call with reporters on Monday.
Plenty of movement lower down
Nine players occupy Grade B, three more than last year. Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur and Arundhati Reddy all move up after strong contributions during the World Cup. Sneh Rana, who stormed back into the side in mid-2025 and took 15 wickets in the Sri Lanka tri-series, also shifts up a notch. “Sneh showed us what experience, a clear mind and a bit of craft can do,” bowling coach Troy Cooley remarked last month.
Three newcomers – Pratika Rawal, Kranti Gaud and wicketkeeper Uma Chetry – slide straight into the middle tier. Rawal’s 308 runs at 51.33 before injury made her India’s second-highest scorer at the World Cup, while Gaud’s 6-for-52 in Nottingham last July turned England’s ODI series on its head. Chetry, still only 21, impressed the selectors with her glovework on slow pitches in Bangladesh.
Grade C has a fresh look as well. Shree Charani and Harleen Deol, both members of the World Cup squad, headline a group that also features Yastika Bhatia – currently rehabbing a knee – Kashvee Gautam, Tejal Hasabnis, Vaishnavi Sharma and G Kamalini. Charani finished the global tournament with 14 wickets, second only to Deepti’s 22. “She just kept landing it on a length and waiting for mistakes,” captain Harmanpreet said during the victory parade in Mumbai.
Patil and Vastrakar miss out
The two notable omissions are all-rounders Shreyanka Patil and Pooja Vastrakar. Each held Grade C last season but spent much of the year in the treatment room. Both did find form for RCB in the recent WPL and Patil has earned a recall for the Australia T20Is starting next week, yet the selectors have chosen to wait before restoring their retainers. An official close to the process explained: “Injuries happen, but we need evidence of sustained fitness.”
Contract lists
Grade A: Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma.
Grade B: Renuka Thakur, Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh, Sneh Rana, Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, Pratika Rawal, Kranti Gaud, Uma Chetry, Arundhati Reddy.
Grade C: Shree Charani, Yastika Bhatia, Harleen Deol, Kashvee Gautam, G Kamalini, Vaishnavi Sharma, Tejal Hasabnis.
Why it matters
Central contracts aren’t just about a payslip. They influence NCA support, injury management plans and workload monitoring, especially for younger players. With a home Test series against England pencilled in for October and a T20 World Cup in early 2027, the BCCI wants a settled, fit core.
Quick takeaways
• Rodrigues’ elevation rewards her World Cup heroics and consistent white-ball form.
• Eight promotions overall suggest the board is comfortable rewarding short-term impact.
• Patil and Vastrakar have a clear pathway back: prove fitness, string games together.
• The influx of fresh faces in Grade C highlights growing depth in domestic cricket.
And that, more or less, is the picture: a contract sheet that mirrors India’s changing, increasingly confident women’s side – and leaves a couple of seasoned all-rounders with something to chase over the next few months.
