BCCI Set to Eliminate A+ Category in Upcoming Central Contracts; Uncertainty Surrounds Grades for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma | Cricket News
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MUMBAI: A significant overhaul in the BCCI’s Annual Central Contracts system is set to potentially reshape the hierarchy of Indian cricket’s elite players for the 2025-26 season.
Proposed Removal of the A+ Category
Sources indicate that the Ajit Agarkar-led national selection committee has proposed eliminating the Grade A+ category, which was introduced in 2018. This change could directly affect senior stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Current Contract Structure
Under the existing policy, players in the A+ category receive an annual payment of Rs 7 crore, while the A, B, and C categories receive Rs 5 crore, Rs 3 crore, and Rs 1 crore, respectively. It is anticipated that the new retainers for 2025-26 will only categorize players into A, B, and C categories, abandoning the current four-tier system.
Future of Top Players and Contract Adjustments
In the previous cycle, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja were included in the A+ category. However, there is no indication of a pay cut for Bumrah or other A contract holders. Given that Rohit and Kohli do not participate in all three formats, there is speculation about their placement in the B category, which currently offers a retainer of Rs 3 crore. It’s likely that Bumrah and Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill will remain in the highest-paid ‘A’ category.
Next Steps for BCCI Apex Council
This proposal will be discussed in the upcoming BCCI apex council meeting, where further details on potential revisions to the monetary slabs will also be examined.
Current Contracts Overview
The existing 2024-25 central contracts list includes players like Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, and Rishabh Pant in Grade A. Grade B includes Suryakumar Yadav, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shreyas Iyer. Notably, players like Kuldeep and Washington Sundar, who currently holds a Grade C contract, participate in all formats of the game.
Importance of Central Contracts
Central contracts serve as annual retainers paid in addition to match fees, providing financial security and reflecting a player’s standing within the national setup.
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