BCCI to Scrap Grade A+, Rohit- Kohli Likely in Grade B as Central Contract System Faces Major Change

India lost an ODI series to New Zealand just two days ago, and now another big news has come out. The BCCI is planning to change its central contract system, and this may affect Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

BCCI plans to change central contracts as Rohit-Kohli may drop to Grade B

It is being said that the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar wants to remove the top Grade A+ category. If this happens, there will be only three grades A, B, and C. This means the highest ₹7 crore contract may no longer exist. Under the new plan, Kohli and Rohit may be put in Grade B because they now play only ODIs and are not playing Test matches. The BCCI will discuss the final rules and money details in its next meeting. Right now, Grade A players get ₹5 crore, Grade B players get ₹3 crore, and Grade C players get ₹1 crore per year, apart from match fees.

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Rohit Sharma Batter

Rohit Sharma, known as ‘Hitman’, is an Indian cricketer who plays for Mumbai and the Indian cricket team.

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Virat Kohli Batter

Virat Kohli (born Nov 5, 1988) is an Indian batting phenomenon, nicknamed "King Kohli," known for record-breaking runs, fitness, and leading India to major titles like the 2011 World Cup, known for his aggressive style, playing for India, Delhi, and RCB in IPL, holding records for ODI centuries (50+), fastest to numerous ODI milestones, winning ICC awards (Cricketer of the Decade), and married to actress Anushka Sharma, a true modern cricket legend.

Usually, the BCCI announces contracts in February or March, but this time they are doing it earlier. India’s recent poor results and the focus on young players have made the board rethink how contracts should be given. Last year, Kohli, Rohit, Bumrah, and Jadeja were in Grade A+. Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, Rishabh Pant, and Mohammed Siraj were in Grade A. Suryakumar Yadav, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Yashasvi Jaiswal were in Grade B.

With the new system, some players may get promoted. Shubman Gill, now India’s Test and ODI captain, is very likely to be in the top grade. Arshdeep Singh, Tilak Varma, Dhruv Jurel, and Harshit Rana could also move up because they are playing regularly. At the same time, Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar may not get a contract this year, as Shami has not played since March and Mukesh last played in July 2024.

BCCI Central Contracts (2024-25)

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by Dwijesh January 20, 2026