BCCI to Reevaluate Central Contracts for Indian Cricketers: What Changes Are Coming?

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is preparing to discuss significant changes to the central contracts for the men's cricket team in its upcoming Apex Council meeting. Led by Ajit Agarkar, the selection committee has proposed alterations to the grading system, which may include phasing out the Grade A+ category. Current retainers for players vary, with top-tier players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli currently in the A+ bracket. As the BCCI evaluates these proposals, the future of player contracts and financial structures remains uncertain. Stay tuned for updates on this crucial development in Indian cricket.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 20, 2026, 16:04 IST

BCCI's Upcoming Apex Council Meeting

New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to deliberate on potential modifications to the central contracts for the Indian men's cricket team during its forthcoming Apex Council meeting, following suggestions from the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar.

According to insiders, the five-member selection panel has put forth several proposals, although it appears that the board's senior officials have yet to review them. A formal discussion is anticipated at the next meeting, with the date to be announced soon.

Sources indicate that the grading system for the men's central contracts will be a key topic at the upcoming BCCI Apex Council meeting. The proposals from the Ajit Agarkar-led committee will be on the agenda, and the board will consider them during the meeting.

It is believed that the Grade A+ category may be eliminated, but any final decisions regarding this and related financial adjustments will only be made after the Apex Council's approval.

Currently, Indian men's cricketers are classified into four grades: A+, A, B, and C, along with match fees for various formats. Players in Grade A+ receive an annual retainer of ₹7 crore, while those in Grades A, B, and C earn ₹5 crore, ₹3 crore, and ₹1 crore, respectively.

Prominent players such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja currently fall under the A+ category. However, it remains to be seen if Kohli and Rohit, who primarily participate in ODIs, along with Jadeja, who plays Tests and ODIs, will maintain their positions in the highest tier if the grading system undergoes changes.

As per the contracts list for 2024/25 released on April 21, 2025, players like Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill (who is now the captain for both Test and ODI formats), Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, and Rishabh Pant are categorized in Grade A. Meanwhile, T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shreyas Iyer are in Grade B.

Grade C includes 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.