Just one day after Rohit Sharma (No.1) and Virat Kohli (No.2) secured the top two positions in the ICC ODI batters Rankings, it has come to light that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is possibly considering revising their contract with the governing body, as per reports. It is worth mentioning that Kohli and Rohit have stepped down from Tests and T20Is, thus being available only for the twenty-over format.
Consequently, the BCCI’s AGM, scheduled for December 22, could lead to a change in the annual contracts of the Indian cricket legends.
What are the Annual Player Contracts for Team India?
The BCCI central contracts are a very careful evaluation tool devised to reward players’ performance, incentivize participation across formats, especially in the Test format. The different categories also ensure the highest standards of professionalism in the team.
The BCCI Central Contracts policy divides top Indian cricketers into four levels A+, A, B, and C for annual retention. This also means a salary of ₹7 Cr, ₹5 Cr, ₹3 Cr, and ₹1 Cr respectively, plus fees and perks for matches, depending on performance, consistency, and commitment across formats.
Moreover, the A+ category is for the best all-format players, who, according to the present contract list, are Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli, who are now restricted to one format only. The system not only rewards the players based on their performance but also provides them with financial stability as national team players.
The allotment of grades in BCCI annual Central Contracts is rather indirect and thus complex.
The high India’s cricket body central contracts system consists of players who are graded through an annual exercise carried out in secret rooms, done by the selection committee, the head coach, and the captain.
The classification of the grades proceeds as follows:
- Priority and Participation by Format
By giving Test cricket priority and showing off performance in the format, the players are the ones who get the higher categories, such as Grade A and above. Besides, the A+ category, the top-tier category, is only for the best players of all formats.
- Minimum Match Criteria, Performance, and Consistency
Even for one to be getting the lowest Grade C, one must have played a certain number of matches. In general, a player should have taken part in a minimum of 3 Tests, or 8 ODIs, or 10 T20Is for the national team to be counted in the categories. Nevertheless, it is important to note that a player cannot get a promotion just through an increase in total matches.
Here comes the player’s performance and consistency. The status of a contracted player is determined by the player’s regular impact on the field throughout the contract period. However, exceptions exist for the leading-tier players. A drop in performance or injury issues will not affect their status.
- Commitment to Domestic Cricket
Recently, BCCI has taken a strong stance on the matter of domestic cricket by making it compulsory for the centrally contracted players to play in the domestic circuit if they are not on national duty. The recent withdrawals of Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan from the central contracts because of their non-participation in domestic events are an indication of BCCI’s firm position in favor of domestic players.
In April 2025, the BCCI came out with the announcement of central contracts for the players, which included Rohit and Virat in the top A+ category. However, there have been many developments since the last announcement. Their retirement from Tests and T20Is, and the BCCI’s strong position in domestic cricket, all contribute to the question of their eligibility for an A+ grade.
Their unmatched legendary status and fans might, however, be the reason for them to hang onto it. But, it will be interesting to see in which category BCCI will place the two greatest Indian batters, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
