Demotion of Rohit, Kohli in BCCI central contracts

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly considering significant changes to its central contract structure for the 2026–27 season. The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee has proposed removing the ‘A Plus’ category entirely and continuing with only three contract grades.

If implemented, this move could directly impact senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who are currently active only in the ODI format. Due to their limited format participation, sources suggest they could be moved down from the A Plus category to Grade B.

At present, players in the A Plus category receive an annual retainership of ₹7 crore. In case the top category is scrapped, Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah may be shifted to Grade A. The final call is expected to be taken in the upcoming BCCI Apex Council meeting.

There is also discussion around introducing a new Grade D, similar to the special fast-bowler contracts introduced earlier to support players under the National Cricket Academy system. However, clarity on this front is still awaited.