BCCI has announced the Annual Player Retainership 2025-26 for Indian men's cricket team. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been moved from Grade A+ to Grade B, while Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja occupy the top Grade A bracket.
Here is the complete list of contracted players, salary details, and everything you need to know.
BCCI Announces Men's Central Contracts for 2025-26 Season
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officially announced the Annual Player Contracts for Team India Senior Men on February 9, 2026. The contracts cover the period from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026, and include a total of 30 players — down from 34 in the previous cycle.
In the biggest shake-up to Indian cricket's pay structure in recent years, the BCCI has scrapped the Grade A+ category entirely and introduced a streamlined three-tier system: Grade A, Grade B, and Grade C.
This restructuring has directly impacted two of India's greatest cricketers — Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli — who have been moved from the now-abolished A+ tier down to Grade B.
Why Were Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Demoted to Grade B?
The placement of Rohit and Kohli in Grade B is the most talked-about development from the BCCI central contracts 2025-26 announcement. However, the demotion is rooted in cricketing logic rather than any disciplinary or performance-related concerns.
Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have systematically reduced their international workload over the past two years:
Rohit Sharma retired from T20 Internationals after India's 2024 T20 World Cup triumph in Barbados and subsequently stepped away from Test cricket as well.
Virat Kohli also retired from T20Is following the same World Cup victory and later walked away from the Test format.
As of February 2026, both legends represent India exclusively in ODI cricket. The BCCI's new contract framework rewards multi-format availability, and since Rohit and Kohli now feature in only one out of three formats, their Grade B placement aligns with the board's revised criteria.
Despite the lower contract grade, both remain integral to India's ODI plans and are expected to play a key role in the 2027 ODI World Cup campaign.
BCCI Central Contracts 2025-26: Complete Men's Player List
Grade A (3 Players)
S.No. | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
1 | Shubman Gill | Batter (India Test & ODI Captain) |
2 | Jasprit Bumrah | Fast Bowler |
3 | Ravindra Jadeja | All-Rounder |
Shubman Gill leads the Grade A list as India's captain in both Tests and ODIs. Jasprit Bumrah, India's premier fast bowler and match-winner across conditions, retains his place at the top. Ravindra Jadeja, despite having retired from T20Is, continues to be a vital contributor in Tests and ODIs with both bat and ball.
Grade B (11 Players)
S.No. | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
4 | Washington Sundar | All-Rounder |
5 | Rohit Sharma | Batter (Former Captain) |
6 | Virat Kohli | Batter (Former Captain) |
7 | KL Rahul | Batter / Wicketkeeper |
8 | Mohammed Siraj | Fast Bowler |
9 | Hardik Pandya | All-Rounder |
10 | Rishabh Pant | Wicketkeeper-Batter (Test Vice-Captain) |
11 | Kuldeep Yadav | Spinner |
12 | Yashasvi Jaiswal | Batter |
13 | Suryakumar Yadav | Batter (T20I Captain) |
14 | Shreyas Iyer | Batter (ODI Vice-Captain) |
Grade B features a strong mix of experienced campaigners and all-format contributors. Notably, Suryakumar Yadav, India's T20I captain, is also in this tier since he currently plays only the T20I format. Rishabh Pant, India's Test vice-captain, drops from Grade A to Grade B despite being a regular in the Test lineup.
Grade C (16 Players)
S.No. | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
15 | Axar Patel | All-Rounder |
16 | Tilak Varma | Batter |
17 | Rinku Singh | Batter |
18 | Shivam Dube | All-Rounder |
19 | Sanju Samson | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
20 | Arshdeep Singh | Fast Bowler |
21 | Prasidh Krishna | Fast Bowler |
22 | Akash Deep | Fast Bowler |
23 | Dhruv Jurel | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
24 | Harshit Rana | Fast Bowler |
25 | Varun Chakravarthy | Spinner |
26 | Nitish Kumar Reddy | All-Rounder |
27 | Abhishek Sharma | Batter / All-Rounder |
28 | Sai Sudharsan | Batter |
29 | Ravi Bishnoi | Spinner |
30 | Ruturaj Gaikwad | Batter |
Grade C rewards emerging talent and white-ball specialists. Players like Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Arshdeep Singh, and Varun Chakravarthy are being groomed as future mainstays of Indian cricket.
BCCI Central Contract Salary Structure: How Much Do Players Earn?
The BCCI has not officially disclosed the revised salary structure for the new three-tier system. However, under the previous 2024-25 contract cycle, the payment breakdown was as follows:
Grade | Annual Retainer (2024-25) |
|---|---|
Grade A+ | ₹7 Crore |
Grade A | ₹5 Crore |
Grade B | ₹3 Crore |
Grade C | ₹1 Crore |
Since the Grade A+ category has been abolished, it remains to be seen whether the BCCI will revise the amounts for the remaining three grades upward. These annual retainer fees are paid in addition to match fees and performance incentives.
The match fees for Indian cricketers are:
Test Match: ₹15 Lakh per match
ODI: ₹6 Lakh per match
T20I: ₹3 Lakh per match
BCCI Central Contracts 2024-25 vs 2025-26
Here is a comparison of how the contract landscape has shifted:
Major Promotions
Shubman Gill: Grade A → Grade A (now the highest tier after A+ removal)
Major Demotions
Rohit Sharma: Grade A+ → Grade B
Virat Kohli: Grade A+ → Grade B
Rishabh Pant: Grade A → Grade B
Suryakumar Yadav: Grade B → Grade B (same tier, but now with higher-profile company)
Notable Omissions (Dropped from Contracts)
Mohammed Shami — Was in Grade A last season; left out entirely
Sarfaraz Khan — Was in Grade C; no longer on the list
Rajat Patidar — Was in Grade C; dropped
Ishan Kishan — Despite being in India's T20 World Cup 2026 squad, he has no central contract
Mukesh Kumar — Previously in Grade C; excluded
Structural Change
Grade A+ abolished — The BCCI has moved from a four-tier to a three-tier contract system
Ishan Kishan's Surprising Omission from BCCI Contracts
One of the most talked-about exclusions is that of Ishan Kishan. The wicketkeeper-batter was part of India's squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 and delivered strong performances against New Zealand in the recent home series.
Despite his match involvement, Kishan does not feature in any contract grade for 2025-26.
His omission has sparked debate among fans and experts, especially given that he was included in the Grade C category during the 2024-25 cycle after making a return to the contract fold.
Mohammed Shami's Exit from Central Contracts
Mohammed Shami, who was placed in Grade A during the 2024-25 season with an annual retainer of ₹5 crore, has been dropped from the contract list entirely.
Shami has not represented India since early 2025 and has been dealing with fitness and injury concerns. His absence marks the end of an era for one of India's most reliable fast bowlers in ICC events.
What Does This Mean for the 2027 ODI World Cup?
The retention of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the central contract system — even at Grade B — signals that the BCCI and selectors are keeping the door open for both veterans to participate in the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
However, with both players now 38+ (Rohit) and 37+ (Kohli) by the time the tournament arrives, questions around fitness, form, and workload management will be crucial.
The BCCI's contract restructuring makes it clear that the board is preparing for a post-Rohit, post-Kohli era while still giving the legends an opportunity to bow out on their own terms.
Shubman Gill's Rise to the Top of Indian Cricket
Shubman Gill's placement in Grade A — now the highest tier — cements his position as the face of Indian cricket's new generation. As captain in both Tests and ODIs, the 26-year-old carries immense responsibility.
His leadership during the 2025 Champions Trophy, where he scored a match-winning century against Bangladesh, earned widespread praise.
Gill's elevation reflects the BCCI's trust in him as the long-term successor to Rohit Sharma in India's batting lineup and captaincy structure.
FAQs About BCCI Central Contracts 2025-26
Q: Why were Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli demoted to Grade B?
A: Both players now represent India only in ODIs after retiring from Test and T20I cricket. The BCCI's new system rewards multi-format participation, which led to their placement in Grade B.
Q: How many players received BCCI central contracts for 2025-26?
A: A total of 30 men's cricketers have been awarded central contracts for the 2025-26 season.
Q: Who is in Grade A of the BCCI central contracts 2025-26?
A: Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja are the only three players in Grade A.
Q: Has the BCCI revealed the new salary amounts?
A: No, the BCCI has not disclosed the revised remuneration structure for the new three-tier grading system as of February 9, 2026.
Q: Why is Ishan Kishan not in the central contracts despite being in the T20 World Cup squad?
A: The exact reason has not been disclosed, but central contracts are based on the selectors' assessment of a player's overall contribution and availability across formats during the evaluation period.
Q: When is the BCCI central contract 2025-26 valid?
A: The contracts are effective from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026.
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