BCCI Discontinues A+ Central Contract Grade Following Format Retirements

The BCCI has discontinued the A+ category in its annual central contracts for the 2025-26 season. This category was considered the highest grade and was introduced in 2018 during the Committee of Administrators (COA) era. Over the years, only four players—Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja—were included. The category was created to reward players who excel across all formats of the game. Its removal has caught the attention of cricket fans and analysts alike.

The reason for discontinuing A+ is largely due to the retirement of three of the four players from one or more formats. Only Jasprit Bumrah remains active across all formats. The BCCI did not want Bumrah to be the sole player in this top category. Additionally, the national selection committee is unsure whether Shubman Gill is a guaranteed all-format player. This uncertainty influenced the decision to simplify the contract structure.

For the 2025-26 season, central contracts have been divided into three categories: A, B, and C. Grade A includes players like Bumrah, Jadeja, and Gill. Grade B has 11 players, while Grade C includes 16 players, including one-format participants. Interestingly, senior all-rounder Axar Patel was placed in Group C despite his regular participation in ODIs and T20Is. The new structure aims to balance fairness and financial planning.

Also Read: BCCI Clarifies Central Contracts: Why Kohli, Rohit Expected in B Category for 2025-26

The BCCI has not revealed the retainership fees for the new contract groups. In previous seasons, Group A players earned ₹5 crore annually, Group B ₹3 crore, and Group C ₹1 crore. It is unclear if Bumrah will continue to receive the earlier A+ retainership of ₹7 crore. Fans are curious whether the top performer across formats will be compensated fairly despite the category being scrapped.

Overall, 30 men and 21 women cricketers have been awarded central contracts for the season. The move marks a significant change in how India’s cricketing hierarchy recognises multi-format performers. With the A+ grade removed, the focus shifts to Group A as the top tier. The BCCI’s decision reflects both the changing player landscape and the evolving priorities of the board. The cricketing community will watch closely how this impacts players’ performances and future selections.

Also Read: BCCI Proposes Central Contracts Overhaul: A+ Category Dropped, Kohli & Rohit Eyed for Grade B