Have Kohli and Rohit Been Demoted to Grade B in BCCI's Central Contract?
Synopsis
In a significant shake-up of the BCCI's central contracts, former captains Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been downgraded to Category B for the upcoming 2025-26 season. This restructuring highlights the changing dynamics in Indian cricket and the emergence of new leadership under Shubman Gill.
Key Takeaways
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are now in Category B .
Only three players make up Category A .
The A+ category has been eliminated.
Player contracts reduced from 34 to 30 .
Washington Sundar benefits from the new grading system.
Mumbai, Feb 9 (NationPress) Former Indian cricket captains Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who currently participate in only one of the three international formats, have been reassigned to Category B in the BCCI’s central contracts list for the 2025-26 season.
This change represents a decline from their previous top-tier status following a new grading system unveiled on Tuesday.
The contracts, effective from October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026, feature only three players in Category A.
These players include Shubman Gill, the captain for Test and ODI formats, pace sensation Jasprit Bumrah, and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who stands as India's most seasoned active Test cricketer.
Significantly, the BCCI has eliminated the A+ category that was part of the 2024-25 cycle. Last season, Kohli, Rohit, Bumrah, and Jadeja were included in this exclusive group, making Gill the most prominent beneficiary after assuming leadership of both Test and ODI teams from Rohit last year.
Category B consists of T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, along with veteran players Rishabh Pant (Test vice-captain), KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, and Mohammed Siraj.
In comparison to the previous season's structure, the BCCI appears to have merged the earlier Grades A and B into a singular middle tier for 2025-26, with Washington being a notable benefactor of this modification.
Among the significant changes, spin-bowling all-rounder Axar Patel has been relegated to Category C despite his regular presence in white-ball formats and his role as vice-captain of India’s current T20 World Cup squad.
The overall list of men’s contracts has been reduced from 34 players to 30, with no new entries.
Senior fast bowler Mohammed Shami, who previously belonged to Grade A, alongside Sarfaraz Khan, Rajat Patidar, and Mukesh Kumar, has been omitted from the latest roster.
The BCCI has yet to disclose the financial specifics for the three contract categories.
Category C presents a blend of seasoned players and emerging talent, including Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Dhruv Jurel, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Abhishek Sharma, Sai Sudharsan, Ravi Bishnoi, and Ruturaj Gaikwad.
List of BCCI-contracted players for 2025-26
Category A: Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja.
Category B: Washington Sundar, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer.
Category C: Axar Patel, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Dhruv Jurel, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Abhishek Sharma, B Sai Sudharsan, Ravi Bishnoi, Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Point of View
I see this change as a pivotal moment for Indian cricket. The BCCI's decision to adjust player contracts reflects a necessary evolution within the team, emphasizing performance over tenure. It provides opportunities for younger talent while still recognizing the contributions of seasoned players like Kohli and Rohit. This is a strategic move that could redefine the team's future.
NationPress
20 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli dropped to Category B?
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were reassigned to Category B due to their current participation in only one of the three international formats, reflecting a shift in their roles within the team.
Who are the players in Category A for the 2025-26 season?
The players in Category A for the 2025-26 season are Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja.
What changes were made to the BCCI central contracts?
The BCCI central contracts underwent significant changes, including the removal of the A+ category and the merging of previous Grades A and B into a single middle tier.
How many players are now on the BCCI men's contracts list?
The men's contracts list has been reduced from 34 players to 30, with no new additions.
What does this mean for the future of Indian cricket?
This restructuring indicates a shift towards younger leadership and may open up opportunities for emerging talent while still maintaining a balance with experienced players.
