SRH Star Batter Not to Be Included in BCCI Central Contract Despite Century to His Name

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Sunrisers Hyderabad batter Ishan Kishan finds himself at a crossroads once again, with the BCCI unlikely to offer him a central contract despite his blistering hundred in the opening game of IPL 2025.

The 25-year-old left-hander had announced his return to top-flight cricket with a stunning 47-ball 106 against the Rajasthan Royals. However, since then, Kishan's form has nosedived, casting fresh doubts over his place in India's plans moving forward.

In the games following his century, Kishan has struggled to get going, with scores of 0, 2, 2, 17, and an unbeaten 9-failing to replicate the aggressive fluency that earned him early accolades.

These underwhelming returns, combined with his absence from India's squad since the latter half of 2024, have diminished his chances of regaining a foothold, let alone a spot in BCCI's central contract list.

What makes the situation even more glaring is the upward trajectory of his Sunrisers Hyderabad teammates, Abhishek Sharma and Nitish Kumar Reddy. Both players have been consistent contributors and are likely to be rewarded with contracts when the BCCI unveils its much-anticipated list in the coming days.

According to a Cricbuzz report, the duo's performances across international formats-particularly Nitish's appearances in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and Abhishek's T20 exploits-make them strong contenders for Grade C contracts.

The contrast in fortunes highlights the unforgiving nature of Indian cricket, where a single explosive performance may earn you applause, but consistency is what secures a place on the BCCI's radar. Kishan, who last featured for India in mid-2024, has yet to tick the BCCI's benchmark of playing a minimum of three Tests, eight ODIs, or ten T20Is within the assessment period.

Without meeting that threshold, he remains ineligible under the current norms unless granted a special concession-something unlikely in his case given recent form.

Meanwhile, the inclusion of Harshit Rana and Varun Chakaravarthy-also mentioned in the Cricbuzz report-points toward a trend of rewarding players based on cumulative impact across formats rather than brief flashes of brilliance. Rana, despite not fulfilling individual format criteria, has played enough games collectively to be considered, while Chakaravarthy's sustained presence in white-ball cricket keeps him relevant.

Kishan's omission, should it be confirmed, will serve as a reminder that India's player pool is deeper than ever. Opportunities are fleeting, and those who fail to seize them consistently may find themselves left behind, even after headline-grabbing knocks.

As the BCCI prepares to finalize its list, Kishan may well need to dig deeper-not just to regain a central contract, but to reassert his credentials as a dependable force in Indian cricket. For now, a solitary century may simply not be enough.