In Shorts
- BCCI releases central contracts for the 2025–26 cycle with major structural changes.
- Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are assigned Grade B contracts after retiring from several cricket formats.
- The A+ category is scrapped; three players top the new Grade A list.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced its annual player contracts for the 2025–26 season, covering both senior men’s and women’s teams. This year’s list reflects a notable overhaul in grading and priorities for the national side.
In a high-profile move, two of India’s biggest cricket icons, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, have been placed in Grade B contracts. This marks a departure from their long-standing top-tier status, a change driven largely by their reduced roles in multi-format cricket. Both players have stepped back from Test and T20 International formats and now focus mainly on One Day Internationals.
The contract structure itself has been simplified, with the BCCI removing the previous A+ tier and consolidating retainers into three main grades: A, B, and C. This adjustment reshapes how players are rewarded and recognized, linking contract grade more directly to current format involvement rather than legacy career achievements.
A total of 30 senior male cricketers received central contracts, with Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja leading the list in Grade A, a status signifying core contributors across formats. These placements suggest that the BCCI is betting on a blend of experience and all-format availability as Indian cricket progresses toward future global tournaments.
Grade B now includes not just Kohli and Rohit, but also other established performers such as Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shreyas Iyer. This tier reflects consistent contributors who are important parts of India’s white-ball plans.
Meanwhile, Grade C lists emerging talents and squad players who could push for bigger roles with strong performances. The women’s team contract list shows a similar tiered approach, with Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, and Jemimah Rodrigues topping the women’s Grade A category.
The new contract framework underlines the BCCI’s intent to reward current impact and availability, while also managing resources and remuneration in line with international workload and performance metrics. As Indian cricket heads into another competitive cycle, these contract decisions will shape team dynamics and planning in the months ahead.
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