BCCI Unveils Annual Player Retainership List for 2025-26 Season
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced the annual player retainership list for the upcoming 2025–26 cricket season. This crucial document outlines the financial agreements and hierarchical structure for India's top cricketers, with contracts meticulously divided into three distinct grades: Grade A, Grade B, and Grade C. Notably, the elite Category A+ has been discontinued this year, signaling a shift in the board's evaluation criteria.
Grade A: The Premium Bracket with Only Three Stars
In a move that underscores a highly selective approach, Grade A features just three prominent names, indicating a tight premium bracket reserved for the absolute best. The players honored in this top tier are Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja. This selection sends a sharp and clear signal about who the BCCI currently places at the very pinnacle of the national cricket set-up. Players in this exclusive category will receive an annual salary of ₹5 crore, reflecting their elite status and contributions to the team.
Grade B: Major Downgrades and Surprising Inclusions
The most shocking development in this year's list is the absence of former top-tier stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from the highest category. Both players, who were previously in the now-discontinued Category A+, have been downgraded to Grade B. This decision marks a significant shift in their contractual standing and highlights the board's evolving priorities.
Adding to the intrigue, Washington Sundar's name appears ahead of Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the BCCI's Grade B list. While it remains unclear if this placement indicates any specific hierarchy or ranking within the category, it certainly raises eyebrows among cricket analysts and fans alike.
Other notable players included in Grade B are KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal, T20 Captain Suryakumar Yadav, and Shreyas Iyer. All athletes in this category will receive an annual salary of ₹3 crore from the BCCI, ensuring substantial financial support for their ongoing careers.
Grade C: The Emerging and Established Talent Pool
Grade C encompasses the next rung of players, featuring a mix of emerging talents and established performers. The list includes Axar Patel, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Dhruv Jurel, Harshit Rana, and Varun Chakaravarthy. Additionally, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Abhishek Sharma, Sai Sudharsan, Ravi Bishnoi, and Ruturaj Gaikwad also feature in this category. Players in Grade C will receive an annual salary of ₹1 crore from the BCCI, providing a solid foundation for their development and performance.
Notable Omissions from the Retainership List
In a surprising turn of events, Ishan Kishan is nowhere to be found on the BCCI's annual player retainership list for the 2025–26 season. Even champion pacer Mohammed Shami fails to make it to the list, despite his past contributions and experience. Younger players like Sarfaraz Khan and Rajat Patidar are also excluded, indicating a competitive and selective process.
It is worth noting that in the 2024-25 season, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer had returned to the BCCI's annual player retainership list, where they were placed in Grade C. During that same year, players such as Varun Chakaravarthy, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, and Abhishek Sharma made their debut on the list, showcasing the dynamic nature of player evaluations and contract allocations.
