Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s sharp drop to Grade B in the BCCI’s latest central contract list for the 2025–26 season has sparked widespread debate, but the move is rooted firmly in eligibility criteria rather than form or stature.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday announced annual central contracts for 30 men and 21 women cricketers, classifying them into Grade A, B, and C. Notably, the board abolished the elite Grade A+ category, which earlier carried a retainership fee of ₹7 crore and was reserved for players excelling across all formats.
Kohli and Rohit, both long-time occupants of the top bracket, were relegated to Grade B because they are now active in only one international format. The duo retired from T20 Internationals in 2024 and subsequently stepped away from Test cricket in 2025, leaving them available only for One-Day Internationals. Under BCCI norms, placement in higher contract categories depends on performance and volume of international matches played across formats during the previous season.
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With Grade A+ scrapped, Grade A has effectively become the top tier. However, even that category is generally meant for players who are regulars in multiple formats. As one-format players, Kohli and Rohit no longer met the criteria to remain at the top.
The now-defunct A+ grade was introduced during the tenure of the Committee of Administrators (COA), reportedly at the suggestion of former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, to reward consistent excellence across all three formats. Over the years, only Kohli, Rohit, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja had qualified for that exclusive bracket.
In the latest list, Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja were retained in Grade A, reflecting their continued involvement across formats. The BCCI did not officially disclose the retainership amounts, but in previous cycles, Grade A players earned ₹5 crore annually, Grade B ₹3 crore, and Grade C ₹1 crore.
On the women’s side, Jemimah Rodrigues earned a promotion to Grade A following her standout performance in the World Cup semi-final against Australia. Sneh Rana also moved up to Grade B, joining players such as Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh, and Renuka Singh Thakur. Women’s retainership fees currently stand at ₹50 lakh for Grade A, ₹30 lakh for Grade B, and ₹10 lakh for Grade C.
The demotion of Kohli and Rohit, while dramatic on paper, reflects a structural reset of the contract system rather than a judgement on their legacy—underscoring the BCCI’s increasing emphasis on workload, availability, and multi-format participation
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