BCCI Women's Central Contracts 2025-26: Jemimah Rodrigues Promoted to Grade A After World Cup Heroics — Full List, Salary, and Key Changes

The BCCI has announced the Annual Player Retainership 2025-26 for the Indian Women's Cricket Team. World Cup hero Jemimah Rodrigues has been promoted to Grade A alongside Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, and Deepti Sharma. Shreyanka Patil and Pooja Vastrakar are notable omissions.

Here is the complete list of 21 contracted players, salary breakdown, and all the key changes.

BCCI Announces Women's Central Contracts for 2025-26 Season

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the Annual Player Contracts for Team India Senior Women on February 9, 2026. The contracts are valid from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026, and include a total of 21 players across three grades — Grade A, Grade B, and Grade C.

The announcement comes on the back of a historic year for Indian women's cricket, with the team winning their maiden ICC Women's ODI World Cup in November 2025 on home soil. That triumph, combined with strong performances in bilateral series, has shaped the composition of this year's contract list.

Jemimah Rodrigues Promoted to Grade A

The headline story from the women's contracts is the promotion of Jemimah Rodrigues to the top-tier Grade A category. Rodrigues was previously in Grade B during the 2024-25 cycle but her extraordinary performances in the 2025 Women's Cricket World Cup made her promotion inevitable.

In the World Cup semifinal against Australia at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, Rodrigues played one of the greatest innings in women's ODI history — scoring an unbeaten 127 off 134 balls to anchor India's record-breaking chase of 339. Her partnership of 167 runs with captain Harmanpreet Kaur proved to be the turning point of the tournament.

Earlier in the group stage, Rodrigues had smashed 76 not out off 55 balls against New Zealand in a must-win encounter, demonstrating her ability to perform under pressure in high-stakes situations.

Following the World Cup, Rodrigues also captained Delhi Capitals to the final of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026, further cementing her status as one of the most impactful players in Indian women's cricket.

She now joins Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, and Deepti Sharma in the elite Grade A bracket.

BCCI Women's Central Contracts 2025-26: Complete Player List

Grade A (4 Players)

Harmanpreet Kaur continues to lead the list as India's ODI and T20I captain. Under her captaincy, India won the historic 2025 Women's ODI World Cup, the team's first-ever 50-over global title. Smriti Mandhana retains her Grade A spot as the team's vice-captain and premier opening batter, while Deepti Sharma remains a crucial all-rounder across all formats.

Grade B (4 Players)

Grade B features India's core support players who contribute significantly across formats. Sneh Rana is the most notable mover here — she has been promoted from Grade C to Grade B, reflecting her consistent performances with both bat and ball. Renuka Thakur remains India's leading fast bowler, while Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh continue to be important members of the batting and wicketkeeping setup.

Grade C (13 Players)

Grade C rewards rising talent and World Cup squad members. Several players earned promotions within this tier — Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, and Arundhati Reddy, all part of India's World Cup-winning squad, have been promoted to Grade C from outside the contract list.

Pratika Rawal, Kranti Gaud, and Uma Chetry are new entrants, while Vaishnavi Sharma and G Kamalini earned their first contracts after making their international debuts during the home T20I series against Sri Lanka in December 2025.

Women's BCCI Central Contract Salary Structure 2025-26

According to reports, the BCCI has not changed the salary structure for women's central contracts from the previous year. The payment breakdown remains:

These annual retainer fees are paid in addition to match fees for every international appearance. Given that India won the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup — their first-ever global 50-over title — there is widespread expectation that the BCCI may announce revised and higher salary slabs for women cricketers in the near future.

For context, the BCCI implemented equal match fees for men and women across all formats in November 2022, which was a landmark step toward pay parity in Indian cricket.

Women's Central Contracts 2024-25 vs 2025-26

Major Promotions

• Jemimah Rodrigues: Grade B → Grade A (World Cup semifinal hero)

• Sneh Rana: Grade C → Grade B (consistent all-round performances)

• Radha Yadav: Not contracted → Grade C (World Cup squad member)

• Amanjot Kaur: Not contracted → Grade C (World Cup squad member)

• Arundhati Reddy: Not contracted → Grade C (World Cup squad member)

New Entrants (First-Time Contracts)

• Pratika Rawal — Rising batter with impressive domestic form

• Kranti Gaud — Emerging talent rewarded for consistent performances

• Uma Chetry — Wicketkeeper-batter making her mark

• Kashvee Gautam — Young all-rounder with a bright future

• G Kamalini — Wicketkeeper who debuted against Sri Lanka

• Vaishnavi Sharma — Bowler who debuted against Sri Lanka

• Tejal Hasabnis — Batter with six ODI caps

• Sree Charani — Bowler earning her first contract

Notable Omissions (Dropped from Contracts)

• Shreyanka Patil — Was in Grade C last season; dropped due to prolonged injury layoff

• Pooja Vastrakar — Was in Grade C last season; excluded after spending the year rehabbing injuries

Both Patil and Vastrakar spent most of the assessment period on the sidelines recovering from multiple injuries. However, both have recently returned to action — Patil was part of RCB's WPL 2026 title-winning campaign and has since been named in India's T20I squad for the upcoming Australia series.

India's Historic 2025 Women's ODI World Cup Victory

The women's central contracts for 2025-26 are heavily influenced by India's maiden ICC Women's ODI World Cup triumph in November 2025. The tournament, held in India, saw Harmanpreet Kaur's team produce an outstanding campaign:

• Jemimah Rodrigues emerged as the player of the tournament with her semifinal century against Australia

• Smriti Mandhana provided consistent starts at the top of the order

• Deepti Sharma delivered key all-round contributions throughout the tournament

• Renuka Thakur spearheaded the bowling attack with wickets in crucial matches

The World Cup victory was a watershed moment for Indian women's cricket and has directly shaped the BCCI's contract decisions for 2025-26. Players who were part of the winning squad have been rewarded, while those who missed out due to injuries have seen their contracts lapse.

Shafali Verma's Grade B Retention: What It Means

Shafali Verma, who was once considered the future of Indian women's batting, retains her Grade B contract for 2025-26. The aggressive opener has had an inconsistent run in recent international outings, but the BCCI and selectors continue to back her talent and potential.

At just 22, Shafali remains one of India's most exciting batting prospects. Her ability to take on opposition bowlers from the first ball makes her a valuable asset in all three formats, and her Grade B retention signals the team management's belief in her long-term role.

WPL 2026 Impact on Central Contracts

The Women's Premier League (WPL) continues to play an important role in shaping player careers and contract decisions. Several players who performed well in the WPL 2026 season have been rewarded with central contracts or promotions:

• Jemimah Rodrigues captained Delhi Capitals to the WPL 2026 final

• Shreyanka Patil contributed to RCB's title win, strengthening her case for future inclusion

• Multiple Grade C players gained visibility and confidence through their WPL performances

The WPL has become an essential platform for Indian women's cricketers to showcase their skills, earn recognition, and build cases for international selection and central contracts.

What's Next for India Women's Cricket in 2026?

The Indian women's team has a packed schedule ahead, which makes the central contracts especially significant:

• Australia Women's Tour — ODI and T20I series

• Women's Test against Australia — A marquee Test fixture

• ACC Rising Stars Asia Cup — India A squad participation

• ICC Women's T20 World Cup preparations — Building depth for future global events

With 21 players now under central contracts, the BCCI has cast a wider net to ensure India has the depth and talent pool to compete across all formats and tournaments in the coming year.

FAQs About BCCI Women's Central Contracts 2025-26

Q: How many women cricketers received BCCI central contracts for 2025-26? A: A total of 21 women's cricketers have been awarded central contracts for the 2025-26 season.

Q: Who is in Grade A of the women's central contracts? A: Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Deepti Sharma.

Q: Why was Jemimah Rodrigues promoted to Grade A? A: Rodrigues was promoted following her match-winning performances in the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup, including a century in the semifinal against Australia.

Q: How much do Grade A women cricketers earn from BCCI contracts? A: Grade A players earn ₹50 Lakh per year as annual retainer, in addition to match fees.

Q: Why are Shreyanka Patil and Pooja Vastrakar not in the contracts? A: Both players spent the majority of the assessment period recovering from injuries and were not available for international selection during that time.

Q: Are men and women paid equal match fees by the BCCI? A: Yes, since November 2022, the BCCI has implemented equal match fees for men's and women's cricketers across all formats.

Q: When are the women's central contracts valid? A: The contracts are effective from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026.

Also Read: BCCI Central Contracts 2025-26: Men's Team — Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli Demoted to Grade B, Full List and Salary Details