The BCCI is set to announce the new central contract list in the near future, with a number of changes expected. Shreyas Iyer will be set to regain after his fine performances, while R Ashwin will be axed after his international retirement.

Will Kohli, Rohit, and Jadeja Be Demoted

Fans are debating if Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja will be moved from their Grade A+ deals as they have retired from T20Is. Nevertheless, the news is that all three will still maintain their place in the higher order, as they continue to be important players in Tests and ODIs, especially for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Virat and Jadeja will likely be in India's team for the upcoming Test series against England, with Rohit's availability still doubtful. He is said to have decided to go out of the tour, but there is no official word as yet.

ALSO SEE: Shane Watson warns RCB ahead of Chepauk clash against CSK: IPL 2025

Axar Patel's Promotion Certain

Axar Patel is likely to be elevated to a Grade A contract since he has continued to play consistently across all three formats. His timely contributions, like a match-winning 47-run support in the 2024 T20 World Cup final, have further cemented his case.

Ishan Kishan's Contract Status in Doubt

While Iyer is set to return to the contract list, Ishan Kishan’s status remains unclear. Both players were previously dropped for skipping domestic cricket. It remains to be seen if the board reinstates Kishan this time.

Final Decision Soon

Selectors, the central contracts to discuss the squad for the England tour.The last word on Rohit Sharma's position and leadership adjustments is also imminent. While Jasprit Bumrah's fitness remains an issue, the team administration is yet to pinpoint a obvious candidate for the captaincy job.

Wait for the official announcement from BCCI including chief selector Ajit Agarkar, head coach Gautam Gambhir, and BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, are going to meet on March 29 in Guwahati.

Within 9 months, Team India, led by captain Rohit Sharma, uplifted the ICC T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy. Now, BCCI and Team India are preparing for another World Cup and other upcoming ICC events. Prior to this, the board can take several decisions that can make a long-term impact on the Men in Blue Brigade.

Read More: New Zealand captain out of Pakistan ODIs

A recent media report suggests BCCI honorary secretary Devajit Saikia is likely to meet head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief of selectors Ajit Agarkar, though it is unclear whether this possible meeting will be official or on a personal stance. Saikia, Agarkar, and Gambhir can hold their discussion on March 30 in Guwahati, the scheduled date for the Rajasthan Royals vs. Chennai Super Kings clash at the Barsapara stadium.

The report further claimed that the BCCI apex committee held a discussion table on the 22nd, the day marked for the inauguration day for IPL 2025. BCCI is yet to make a decision about the central contract, where a lot of changes can be seen. Not only that, officials can make some bold steps about staff reshuffle during the possible meeting between Saikia, Agarkar, and Gambhir on March 30. Gambhir has started his journey as the team India head coach with bowling coach Morne Morkel, Rayn Ten Doeschate (assistant coach), and Abhishek Nayar (assistant coach).

Other staff, like T. Dilip, who is the fielding coach of the men's team, and many others in the staff room, have been associated with the team for a long time. It is speculated that BCCI can take crucial decisions about staff reshuffle to allow some fresh air in the team.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is going to publish the new central contract list, and there may be a lot of new player moves in the ranking. Some of the seniors might opt out of T20Is, but still, the list may see new inclusions.

Senior Players Retain A+ Grade:

In spite of their saying farewell, Rohit Sharma, who is captain of the Indian national cricket team, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, and the most famous Indian batsman, Virat Kohli, are three expected players to be still playing in the A+ group of the BCCI contract. Their continuation at the top end is one of the reasons they are the best in Test and ODI formats.

Also read: RR vs KKR – Weather & Pitch report

Promotions and Demotions in the Contract List:

• Players who have performed impressively for the last few months, probably up from Grade B to Grade A, Axel Patel and Yashe Matthewius.
• The contract is going to be taken away from R. Ashwin. The purpose is to involve young players in the Indian team.
• For his brilliant play at the international level, the middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer might be offered a contract.
• On the other hand, the ceetion of the central contract for wicketkeeper-batsman Aishwarya Kishan cannot be made due to a lack of international games being played by her.

BCCI central contract updates 🚨

🔹 Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja to stay in A+ BCCI contract despite retiring from T20Is.

🔹 Shreyas Iyer likely to get a BCCI contract ✅

🔻 Ishan Kishan could miss out again ❌

(Via- PTI) pic.twitter.com/MwDuYJjoVM

— CricXtasy (@CricXtasy) March 25, 2025

New Players Set for Their First BCCI Contract:
A new batch of youngsters, Akash Deep, Sarfaraz Khan, and Nikin Jose (NKR), have chances to be rewarded with their first BCCI central dissolving process. Their perfect track record at home and their play record on India's A team have made them a potential list member.

Also read:PBKS VS GT IPL Match Live Streaming: Where & How to Watch on the tv and online mobile

Final Announcement Awaited

The awaited official announcement by BCCI is expected to shed some light on the course of Indian cricket. Already the indication of the young bloods inclusion and the shows of the old hands, the exit signifies a new approach to the national cricket team that is exploring its future international competitors with new horizons.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has released the central contracts for the Indian women's cricket team for the 2024-25 season. The majority of the players from the last contracts have been retained with some alterations in Grade B and Grade C.

Grade A:

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, and all-rounder Deepti Sharma are still in Grade A. They are the backbone of the team.

Grade B:

Renuka Singh Thakur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, and Shafali Verma were given their Grade B contracts once again. Left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad has lost her place from this grade.

Grade C:

A number of young players have received their maiden central contracts. Shreyanka Patil, Titas Sadhu, Arundhati Reddy, Amanjot Kaur, and Uma Chetry have been added to Grade C. They are joined by Yastika Bhatia, Radha Yadav, Sneh Rana, and Pooja Vastrakar in the group. Players such as Meghna Singh, Devika Vaidya, Sabbineni Meghana, Anjali Sarvani, and Harleen Deol have been left out of the contracts this time.

ALSO SEE: LSG VS DC IPL Match Live Streaming: Where & How to Watch on the tv and online mobile

Contract Salaries

Grade A: ₹50 lakh
Grade B:₹30 lakh
Grade C: ₹10 lakh

Future Matches

The Indian women's side will next be in action in a tri-series against Sri Lanka and South Africa in April as part of preparations for the home ODI World Cup later this year. India, though with a strong team, is still looking for its first global trophy.

Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Rohit Sharma had a rather unfortunate outing in one of the matches of IPL 2025 when he was dismissed for a duck. This was his unfortunate 18th zero in IPL history which makes him the player with the most number of ducks in the tournament. After his dismissal, cricket fans took to Twitter to express their disappointment in a rather humorus and trolling fashion.

Anyway nice tribute to 18th IPL season 😊 pic.twitter.com/c1TVaQqHYk

— Groot (@gjdickf) March 23, 2025

MI Fans Debate Trolling Rohit Sharma’s Unwanted Record:-

Rohit Sharma’s dismissal led to fresh round of trolling and his fans certainly had a lot of reactions and memes to portray how much they enjoyed the fact that he set an IPL record that he won’t be particularly proud of. A bunch of users jokingly claimed that Rohit should place his duck collection right alongside his five IPL trophies.

 Others moved to photographically edit memes of him looking dejected with none scores next to his name.

Rohit Sharma bags his 18th duck in IPL 18! 😲

Most Ducks in IPL history:
🥇 18 - Glenn Maxwell (129 inns)
🥇 18 - Dinesh Karthik (234 inns)
🥇 18 - Rohit Sharma (253 inns)
🥈 16 - Piyush Chawla (92 inns)
🥈 16 - Sunil Narine (111 inns)

Unwanted record for the Hitman! 😬 #IPL… pic.twitter.com/SvpmcEVNgA

— BSGG India (@BsggIndia) March 23, 2025

ALSO READ:Dropped but Not Defeated: Ishan Kishan’s Stunning Comeback

A tough phase for the MI captain:-

With Rohit Sharma being one of the most successful captains of the IPL, while his growing number of ducks is indeed astonishing. Amid the trolls, Sharma’s experience and past achievements bring to light the notion that while form is temporary, class is permanent. MI fans will now be hoping for a strong comeback from their troubled captain as the tournament moves forward.

The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have contracted Shardul Thakur as a replacement for Mohsin Khan, who, due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear received at the Vijay Hazare Trophy in December 2024, is now unable to participate in IPL 2025. The absence of the left-arm fast bowler will hurt LSG, but Thakur coming into the squad does add some strength to the balance.

Thakur’s Experience and Impact

Having been absent from IPL 2025 auctions, Shardul Thakur now has 95 IPL matches to his name. Despite his surprising absence, he will need to impress after picking up crucial wickets amongst his other feats and valuably contributing with the bat. And because of his presence, Simply Thakur aids LSG, in maintaining bowling depth while also boosting firepower in the lower order.

📢 IPL Player Signing Alert

Shardul Thakur set to replace injured Mohsin Khan for LSG in the ongoing IPL season (ESPNcricinfo)#IPL2025 pic.twitter.com/qAiwK7eSUZ

— T20 Franchise Rosters (Men) (@t20tracker) March 22, 2025

ALSO READ:-CSK vs MI: WEATHER & PITCH REPORT

 
LSG's Campaign and Expectation

Thakur’s all-around abilities would be crucial in LSG's success. With the new captain, LSG plans on deploying the powerful spell-caster from the East on March 24 against Delhi Capitals.

ALSO READ:-SRH vs RR: Weather and Pitch report

A PCB spokesperson pointed out in a forceful statement the financial impact India might endure should the BCCI opt not to go to Pakistan.

"India will suffer more financial loss than Pakistan if they choose not to participate in the Champions Trophy,” the spokesperson said. “The BCCI’s decision will not only impact their revenue from the tournament but also their global sponsorship deals and broadcasting rights, which heavily rely on India-Pakistan matches.”

This remark emphasizes the huge stakes since games between India and Pakistan produce unprecedented viewer numbers and huge sponsorship agreements. The PCB is of opinion that a boycott or request for a neutral venue might lower the usual financial advantage India has in ICC events.

India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series since 2012, limiting their ICC event meetings, owing to political concerns. Slated to be held by Pakistan, the Champions Trophy 2025 has turned a fresh source of debate.

"India Will Suffer More Financial Loss...": PCB's Warning After CT 2025 https://t.co/Rjsp1YbfW6

— CricketNDTV (@CricketNDTV) March 22, 2025

Also Read: Kohli's Explosive innings of fifty runs set the ground for RCB in IPL 2025 opener

What comes next?

• The ICC should negotiate a solution between BCCI and PCB and settle communications.
• An alternative middle ground could possibly be considered if India does not pick to compete in Pakistan.
• Any choice will have financial consequences depending on ICC rules, sponsorship agreements, and broadcasting rights.

The ICC might intercede between the two boards, but other sites could be under consideration if India rejects to compete in Pakistan. Still, PCB is determined to have the competition at home, which would constitute one of Pakistan's most significant occasions since the World Cup of 1996.

The cricket world is eagerly waiting BCCI's ultimate verdict, which could define the direction of the Champions Trophy 2025 and IndianPakistani cricket relations given increased tensions.

Due to erroneous social media claims regarding the possible IPL match adjustment for April 6, Kolkata Police issued an observation to clear the air. In the statement, the police have confirmed that every single decision to secure and to deploy resources is always and shall forever remain centered around the safety of citizens. They asked citizens not to disseminate or believe dubious claims.

Public Safety is the Primary Concern

Since the IPL is one of the major sporting spectacles, security of large gatherings is an equally important challenge. Kolkata Police ensure that each of these events will be conducted in a safe and hassle free event. The riot police stand prepared with appropriate action in the event of increasing tensions among the various supporters.

Certain misleading posts are being circulated regarding the proposed rescheduling of the IPL match on 6th April. Kolkata Police remains firmly committed to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens. All deployment decisions are made keeping public safety as the top…

— Kolkata Police (@KolkataPolice) March 21, 2025

ALSOREAD:-IPL 2025 KKR vs RCB : Player BATTLE TO WATCH OUT

Verify Information Before Sharing

Kolkata police requested for citizens to refrain from sharing alarming fake posts as they are only counterproductive. Authorities come forth to ask all people to fact check all posts from dubious claimants before widely distributing them.

Kolkata Police quite confidently ended their message concerning the welfare of citizens by saying their slogan – “With you, Always.”

The BCCI has announced that TATA IPL Fan Parks for the 2025 season is coming, bringing the excitement of live cricket to 50 cities across 23 states and one union territory. The Fan Parks will run for 10 weekends, starting on March 22 and ending on May 25. They will be set up in cities across India, from Tinsukia (Assam) in the northeast to Kochi (Kerala) in the south and from Amritsar (Punjab) in the north to Goa in the west.

These Fan Parks will offer much more than just live match screenings. Fans can enjoy music, entertainment, food courts, and fun activities like virtual batting, bowling challenges, face painting, replica dugouts, a cheer-o-meter, and 360-degree photo booths. Since 2015, IPL Fan Parks have been a great way for people to experience the thrill of the tournament, no matter where they are.

The first Fan Parks of the season will be in Rohtak (Haryana), Bikaner (Rajasthan), Gangtok (Sikkim), Kochi (Kerala), and Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu). Every weekend, new locations will host Fan Parks, giving more people a chance to be part of the IPL excitement. This season, Fan Parks will also be held in new places like Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh), Dimapur (Nagaland), Karaikal (Puducherry), Manbhum, Purulia (West Bengal), Rohtak, and Tinsukia.

TATA IPL 2025: Fan Parks

ALSO READ: 5 Young Guns to Watch in IPL 2025: Who’s the Next Breakout Star?

"IPL Fan Parks are our way of bringing the excitement of the tournament to fans beyond the stadiums. Since 2015, this initiative has created amazing experiences for millions of people. With the 2025 season reaching 50 cities, we are excited to share the joy of cricket and the magic of the IPL with even more fans across the country," said Devajit Saikia.

Entry Timings: IPL Fan Parks

On doubleheader days: Gates open at 1:30 PM IST 

On single-match days: Gates open at 4:00 PM IST

The Indian Premier League (IPL) plays a significant role in international cricket, as the International Cricket Council (ICC) has to consider the rules and their effect on the game. Before the beginning of the IPL 2025, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reportedly reintroduced the rule, which can affect future international cricket matches. 

IPL and T20 cricket is known as batters paradise. Although we have seen many T20 matches, including IPL games, where bowlers dominated the entire game, the batting dominance is still natural for this shorter cricket format. We are experiencing similar stories in the other white-ball format, one-day cricket. Also, in the day-night cricket matches, especially before the peak summer season, dew plays a very important role as the bowlers can't control the game as time progresses.

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IPL 2025: 2 balls in the second innings of a match 

While the ICC is working hard to make white-ball cricket better for the bowlers naturally, the IPL has taken steps to do so. In the IPL 2025, we are likely to see two balls in the second innings of an IPL match. The second ball will come into play after the 11th over of the second innings. According to the Cricbuzz report, this decision has been taken by the BCCI and the Indian Premier League (IPL) management, and it was explained on Thursday (March 20) during a meeting of the captains and managers at Cricket Centre in Mumbai.

The dew factors play crucial roles in the IPL, especially in the first half of the season. Unlike the present ODI format, where we see both innings start with two new balls on either side of the pitch, T20 matches have started with one new ball in each innings and continue with the same ball till the end of the innings. 

However, in the IPL 2025, the first innings will be played with a single ball, while the second innings will be played with two balls, and the second ball will come into effect after the 11th over of the second innings. IPL believes that it will nullify any toss advantage, especially the effect of dew. 

Here are some key facts about the new IPL 2025 rule of using two new balls in the second innings of a match

• It will be used in the 2nd innings.
• It will come into play after the 11th over.
• Umpires will determine whether the ball needs to be changed.
• It will be decided on the presence of dew.
• This rule is unlikely to be used in the afternoon matches.

IPL 2025: Usage of saliva on the ball returns

On the other hand, the BCCI has reportedly reintroduced the usage of saliva on the ball from IPL 2025. Saliva plays an important role in setting up reverse swing by making one side of the ball shinier, which is more effective in the ODI format and Test cricket. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, saliva usage on the ball was banned, while the players can only use sweat on the ball. Recently, the Indian pacer Mohammed Shami talked about bringing back the saliva-using rule on the ball in international cricket, and he has gotten some good support from the experts.