Shreyas Iyer forces BCCI’s hand for central contract with a show too big to ignore

A year after being left out of the BCCI’s central contract list, Shreyas Iyer has made a strong comeback to the Indian cricket fold with consistent performances, leadership success, and a major role in India's ICC Champions Trophy win. His return to the BCCI’s central contract list in Grade B this year is a result of his on-field heroics.

Iyer, who was previously a regular in the national setup, was not considered for a contract in 2024 after failing to make himself available for domestic cricket during the early part of the season, a criteria mandated by the BCCI for player eligibility. The middle-order batsman had not turned up for the Ranji Trophy tie in February 2024, citing an injury concern, leading to action from the governing body.

However, Iyer responded with his performances on the field, starting with domestic tournaments. He played a key role in Mumbai’s successful season, winning the Ranji Trophy, Irani Cup, and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT).


Notably, he captained the team during the SMAT title win.

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Iyer also led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to an IPL title in 2024, showcasing his leadership skills alongside dependable middle-order contributions. These efforts revived his place in the national team setup. He returned to India’s ODI side during the England series and carried that momentum into the ICC Champions Trophy, where he became India’s top scorer with 243 runs in five matches, including two half-centuries.

In 2025, Iyer has featured in eight ODIs, scoring 424 runs at an average of 53.00, with four fifties.

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His form continues in the IPL, where he now leads Punjab Kings (PBKS). Under his captaincy, PBKS has won four of their six matches, while Iyer has contributed 250 runs, including three fifties.

Shreays Iyer's achievements in 2024-25

Tournament/Series	Team Represented	Achievement	Role	Time/Season
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy	Mumbai	Champions	Captain	Oct–Nov 2024
Irani Cup	Mumbai	Champions	Player	Nov 2024
Ranji Trophy	Mumbai	Champions	Player	Jan–Mar 2025
Indian Premier League (IPL)	Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)	Champions	Captain	Apr–May 2024
ICC Champions Trophy	India	Champions	Top run-scorer (243 runs)	Feb–Mar 2025