The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is poised to overhaul its central contract framework, potentially eliminating the Grade A+ category. If the board approves this fresh approach, cricketing icons like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma may find themselves reassigned to the Grade B tier, as per BCCI insiders.
Led by Ajit Agarkar, the selection committee has recommended significant modifications to the current contract structure, suggesting the removal of the A+ tier (which offers Rs 7 crore) and retaining only three categories: A, B, and C. More details regarding the financial implications and the board’s final decision will be unveiled at the next apex council meeting.
BCCI Central Contracts serve as annual retainers for Indian cricketers, classified into A+, A, B, and C grades, with considerable annual compensation (Rs 7 crore for A+, Rs 5 crore for A, Rs 3 crore for B, and Rs 1 crore for C), in addition to match fees.
The 2024-25 contract list, set to be revealed in April 2025, currently features stars like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah in the A+ category. Meanwhile, players such as Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, and Rishabh Pant occupy the Grade A tier.
The Grade B category includes notable names like Suryakumar Yadav, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shreyas Iyer, while Grade C encompasses Rinku Singh, Tilak Verma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Mukesh Kumar, Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Rajat Patidar, Dhruv Jurel, Sarfaraz Khan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma, Akash Deep, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Harshit Rana.
Looking ahead, Team India, now under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, is gearing up for a five-match T20I series against New Zealand. The opening match is set for January 21 at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur, serving as a crucial preparation before the T20 World Cup 2026. India’s global campaign kicks off against the USA on February 7 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
(With ANI Inputs)