Why was Ishan Kishan not included in recently released BCCI Annual contract?

Several familiar names were missing when the BCCI announced its central contracts for the 2025–26 season on Monday, February 9. The announcement quickly drew attention from fans and experts.

The discussion grew stronger because Ishan Kishan, who is part of India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad, was not included in the BCCI central contract list. His absence surprised many and became a major topic of discussion.

Apart from Kishan, players like Mohammed Shami, Sarfaraz Khan, Rajat Patidar, and Mukesh Kumar were also left out. All of them were part of the previous contract cycle. The BCCI reshuffled its list and reduced the number of centrally contracted men’s players from 34 to 30.

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BCCI Contract List 2026: Ishan Kishan Left Out

The BCCI central contracts for the 2025–26 season cover the period from October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026. A total of 30 players have been included across Categories A, B, and C. However, Ishan Kishan is not part of the latest BCCI contract list. His contract status remains unchanged, even though he is included in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad.
(Updated on February 10, 2026)

Why Is Ishan Kishan Not in the BCCI Contract List 2026?

To understand why Ishan Kishan is missing from the BCCI contract list 2026, it is important to look at the review period and selection rules. BCCI central contracts are based on a player’s performance and participation during a fixed evaluation window.

During the previous cycle, Kishan did not play international cricket and was mostly absent from domestic red-ball matches after taking a mental health break in late 2023. The BCCI has a clear rule that players who are fit and not on national duty must play domestic cricket. This rule plays a big role in central contract decisions. Kishan, who was in Grade C last year, now misses out completely from the 2025–26 list.

Another key factor is the number of matches played. Kishan did not play any matches in 2025. Even though his form has improved recently, he is mainly a one-format player and was not part of many series during the review period. This worked against him, unlike players such as Ravi Bishnoi, who played a fair number of games in 2025.

Other Changes and Contract Structure

Ishan Kishan is not the only player dropped from the BCCI contract list 2026. Mohammed Shami, Sarfaraz Khan, Rajat Patidar, and Mukesh Kumar have also been left out. At the same time, Axar Patel has been downgraded from Category B to Category C, despite being a regular white-ball player.

The BCCI has also removed the A+ category from this cycle. Players are now divided only into Category A, B, and C. The board has not shared updated salary details, but interest around Category A players’ pay has increased after the announcement.

Ishan Kishan’s Recent Comeback

The debate around Kishan’s exclusion comes at a time when his form has improved. He performed well in domestic cricket, especially in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025, where he led Jharkhand to the title and finished as the top run-scorer with a strike rate close to 200. These performances earned him a place in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad.

However, selection for a World Cup does not guarantee a central contract. The BCCI contract system follows a fixed cycle and looks at past participation, not current form alone. This is why Kishan remains out of the contract list for now.

In short, Ishan Kishan’s absence from the BCCI contract list 2026 is due to timing, lack of matches during the review period, and contract rules, not his present form. If he continues to play for India regularly, a return to the central contract list in the next cycle is still possible.