A formal decision on the central contracts for the Indian men's team is yet to be finalized. Contrary to media reports, the high-profile Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) meeting did not take place on Saturday. It is now certain that the final decision has been postponed.

"All decisions have been deferred," a highly placed source informed.

As of Saturday, the selection committee had yet to formally discuss player grades. However, there are signs that the BCCI is eager to finalize both the grading system and the tenure of the Indian team’s coaching staff soon. Notably, the board had only just announced the annual player retainership for 2024-25 last week.

Whenever the meeting takes place, a review of the Indian team's coaching staff performances is expected to be on the agenda. As previously reported, special attention will be given to the roles of two specific members of the coaching staff. 

It’s almost certain that Shreyas Iyer, who was left out of the central contracts last year for not prioritizing domestic cricket, will make his way back into the elite list. On the other hand, Ravichandran Ashwin, who recently retired from international cricket, is expected to be dropped from the Grade A contract he held last year.Similarly, Varun Chakaravarthy, who played a crucial role in India's Champions Trophy victory in Dubai, is likely to be awarded a retainership as he meets the eligibility criteria.

According to BCCI rules, "athletes who meet the criteria of playing a minimum of 3 Tests, 8 ODIs, or 10 T20Is within the specified period will automatically be included in Grade C on a pro-rata basis."