Shreyas Iyer’s Red-Hot Form Sparks Central Contract Comeback Talks

After years of battling injuries and facing repeated omissions from the national team, Shreyas Iyer is scripting a powerful comeback in Indian cricket — one that might soon earn him a place back in the coveted BCCI central contracts list.

The 30-year-old Mumbai batter has emerged as one of India’s most dependable performers in recent months. His resurgence began with the first ODI against England, where he was slotted into the playing XI as a replacement for an injured Virat Kohli. Iyer seized the opportunity with both hands, registering scores of 59, 44, and 79 in successive matches — effectively cementing his spot in the team.

He followed that up with a stellar run in the Champions Trophy, amassing 243 runs from five matches at an average of 48. His contributions in the knockout stages — scoring 45 in the semifinal and 48 in the final — were instrumental in India’s triumphant campaign, clinching their third Champions Trophy title.

According to an *ANI* report, these consistent performances are likely to pave the way for Iyer’s return to the BCCI’s central contracts, which are due to be announced shortly. Notably, Iyer was excluded from the 2023-24 contracts despite playing 15 ODIs, four Tests, and two T20Is during the season. BCCI’s criteria require a player to feature in at least three Tests, eight ODIs, or ten T20Is in a calendar year for eligibility.

Sources close to the Mumbai camp suggest that Iyer used last year’s contract snub as motivation. His leadership skills also came to the fore as he guided Mumbai to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title in December and played a pivotal role in Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL triumph just months earlier.

Continuing his golden run, Iyer started the ongoing IPL 2025 season with a bang, smashing an unbeaten 97 off just 41 balls for Punjab Kings against Gujarat Titans — a knock that has further strengthened his case for reinstatement.

The BCCI’s last contract cycle placed Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah in the elite A+ category with a retainership fee of INR 7 crore. With Ravichandran Ashwin announcing his retirement from international cricket, his name is expected to be dropped from the list this year.

If Iyer’s upward trajectory continues, a return to at least the Grade B or even Grade A category — with annual retainers of INR 3 crore and INR 5 crore respectively — appears imminent.

For Iyer, the road back to the top has been long, but his form now speaks louder than any selection setback ever could.