Will the BCCI Change the India Men’s Central Contracts?
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Synopsis
In a significant move, the BCCI is poised to review the India men’s central contracts system, potentially altering player grades and retainers. This comes as the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee submits proposals, raising questions about the future of key players in the contracts hierarchy. Stay tuned for updates on this pivotal meeting!
Key Takeaways
- BCCI is set to discuss potential changes to men’s central contracts.
- Proposals from the Ajit Agarkar committee are under consideration.
- Grade A+ may be eliminated, pending Apex Council approval.
- Current retainer amounts for players vary by grade.
- Future of senior players’ contracts is uncertain amidst the proposed changes.
New Delhi, Jan 20 (NationPress) The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to deliberate on potential modifications to the India men’s central contracts framework during its forthcoming Apex Council assembly, following suggestions from the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee.
As reported by sources within the BCCI to IANS on Tuesday, the five-member selection panel has put forward several recommendations, although it appears that the board's senior officials have not yet received them, and a formal dialogue is anticipated at the upcoming meeting.
"The possibility of revising the grading system in the India men's central contracts is on the agenda for discussion at the next BCCI Apex Council meeting. The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee is believed to have submitted some proposals, which will be considered at the Apex Council meeting, with a date to be announced soon," the sources added.
It is also speculated that Grade A+ may be eliminated; however, any final decisions regarding this and any corresponding financial adjustments will only be executed after the Apex Council's approval at the meeting.
Currently, the annual retainers for Indian men’s cricketers are divided into grades A+, A, B, and C, alongside match fees for various formats. The retainer amount for Grade A+ players stands at Rs 7 crore, while Rs 5 crore, Rs 3 crore, and Rs 1 crore are allocated to players in Grades A, B, and C, respectively.
At present, senior players Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja are part of the A+ category. However, it remains to be seen if Kohli and Rohit, who predominantly play ODIs, along with Jadeja, who participates in Tests and ODIs, will maintain their position in the top tier of annual retainers, especially if the system undergoes changes.
As per the contracts list for 2024/25 released on April 21, 2025, players like Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill (the current Test and ODI captain), Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, and Rishabh Pant were categorized in Grade A. Suryakumar Yadav, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shreyas Iyer were assigned to Grade B.
Players such as 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 were placed in Grade C.
Point of View
Ensuring that player remuneration aligns with performance and market realities, while also considering the implications for team dynamics and competitive balance.
NationPress
21/01/2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What changes are being proposed for the central contracts?
The BCCI is considering modifications to the grading system of the India men’s central contracts, including the potential phasing out of Grade A+.
Who led the selection committee making these proposals?
The proposals are led by the Ajit Agarkar-headed selection committee.
What are the current grades for players?
Players are currently categorized into Grade A+, A, B, and C, with specific retainer amounts for each grade.
How much do Grade A+ players earn?
Grade A+ players receive an annual retainer of Rs 7 crore.
Will senior players retain their A+ status?
It remains uncertain whether senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will maintain their A+ status if the grading system changes.
