In a major recognition of her rising stature in international cricket, Jemimah Rodrigues has been elevated to Grade A of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) central contracts for the 2025-26 season. The 25-year-old middle-order dynamo played a pivotal role in India's triumphant 2025 Women's World Cup campaign, most notably with an electrifying unbeaten 127 against Australia in the semifinals—a performance that cemented her reputation as a big-match player.

Top Tier Recognition

Rodrigues now joins an elite group in Grade A, alongside captain Harmanpreet Kaur, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, and all-rounder Deepti Sharma. This promotion reflects not only her consistent performances but also her growing influence in the dressing room and on the field.

Expanded Player Pool

The BCCI has significantly expanded its centrally contracted players from 16 in the 2024-25 cycle to 21 for 2025-26, signaling a strategic move towards developing greater squad depth and rewarding domestic and international contributions.

Grade B has seen the most movement. Sneh Rana, Radha Yadav, Uma Chetry, Arundhati Reddy, and Amanjot Kaur have all been upgraded from Grade C. Additionally, new entrants Pratika Rawal and Kranti Gaud have been handed contracts, acknowledging their promising performances across formats.

New Faces in Grade C

Grade C has been reshaped to include fresh talent, with Yastika Bhatia being the only holdover from the previous season. The new inclusions—Harleen Deol, Kashvee Gautam, G Kamalini, Vaishnavi Sharma, Tejal Hasabnis, and uncapped left-arm spinner Sree Charani—are all recent India call-ups, highlighting the selectors' intent to broaden the senior women's talent pool.

Absentees Due to Injury

Notably absent are star spinner Shreyanka Patil and all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar, both of whom missed the majority of the previous season due to extended injury lay-offs. However, their recent return for Royal Challengers Bengaluru during their victorious WPL 2026 campaign offers hope for a comeback in future cycles.

Full Contract List 2025-26

• Grade A (4): Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma
• Grade B (10): Renuka Thakur, Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh, Sneh Rana, Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, Pratika Rawal, Kranti Gaud, Uma Chetry, Arundhati Reddy
• Grade C (7): Sree Charani, Yastika Bhatia, Harleen Deol, Kashvee Gautam, G Kamalini, Vaishnavi Sharma, Tejal Hasabnis

The reshuffle underscores the BCCI's commitment to rewarding form, fitness, and long-term development in women's cricket, setting a strong foundation for India's future campaigns.