Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma to move downwards into Grade B? Check details
According to recent reports, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is considering a major overhaul of its central contract system, which could include the removal of the elite A+ category. This proposal has reportedly emerged from recommendations made by the national selection committee, headed by former India pacer Ajit Agarkar, as part of a broader review of the existing player contract framework. Under the current system, players placed in the A+ grade receive an annual retainer of INR 7 crore, making it the highest-paying category in the central contract list. Below A+ are the A, B, and C categories, which offer progressively lower retainers based on seniority, performance, and format involvement.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma set to move into Grade B?
The suggestion to scrap the A+ tier entirely would mark a significant shift in how elite players are compensated and categorized by the board. The proposed changes are expected to be discussed in detail at the upcoming BCCI apex council meeting, where administrators will evaluate whether to approve the revised structure. While an official decision has not yet been made, greater clarity is anticipated on how the new model would be implemented and what financial adjustments it may involve. If approved, the move could redefine the hierarchy within Indian cricket’s central contract system.
According to sources within the BCCI, the proposed changes to the central contract structure could have a significant impact on some of Indian cricket’s biggest names. Former captains Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are reportedly among those who could be shifted to Grade B if the revised model is implemented. Such a move would represent a notable change under the new system, reflecting the board’s evolving approach toward player categorization and remuneration.
Under the existing contract framework, players placed in Grade A receive an annual retainer of INR 5 crore, while those in Grade B earn INR 3 crore per year. Cricketers included in Grade C are paid INR 1 crore annually. These retainers are separate from match fees, which are calculated and paid independently based on the format and number of matches played, and therefore do not form part of the contract amounts.
The most recent central contract list for the 2024–25 season was announced in April last year. At that time, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah were placed in the elite A+ category. Grade A featured key players such as Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, Rishabh Pant, and India’s current Test and ODI captain, Shubman Gill. Any restructuring would significantly alter this established hierarchy.
India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav was the most prominent name in Grade B of the BCCI’s central contract list, leading a group that also included Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Shreyas Iyer, and emerging opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. This category reflected a blend of established international performers and players who have become regular contributors across formats, particularly in limited-overs cricket. The largest group was placed in Grade C, which featured as many as 19 players, highlighting the board’s intent to reward a wider pool of cricketers for their growing involvement at the international level.
The Grade C list included 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. Many of these players have featured consistently in white-ball formats or are being groomed as long-term prospects.
