BCCI Unveils Central Contracts for 2025-26 Season with Major Overhaul
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced its central contracts for the 2025–26 season, revealing a significant restructuring that has left several prominent names out in the cold. The list, released on Monday, sees the omission of key players like Mohammed Shami, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Mukesh Kumar, and Ishan Kishan, all of whom were part of the previous contract cycle.
Contract Categories and Player Allocations
In a major policy shift, the BCCI has awarded annual retainers to 30 men and 21 women cricketers, categorizing them into Groups A, B, and C. Notably, the elite A+ category has been completely scrapped, a move that has fundamentally reshaped the contract hierarchy and pay structure within Indian cricket.
The decision to abolish the A+ category stems from the fact that Jasprit Bumrah is now the only player who remains an automatic selection across all formats. This category was originally introduced during the Committee of Administrators (COA) era to reward all-format excellence and previously featured only Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, and Bumrah.
Notable Downgrades and Promotions
Senior stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been placed in Group B, a downgrade that was largely anticipated following their retirements from Tests and T20Is respectively. This effectively makes them one-format players, and under the current criteria—which factors in performances and the number of matches played in the preceding season—they were no longer eligible for the top bracket.
In a career-first, Shubman Gill finds himself in the highest pay grade, as the two-format captain was retained in Group A alongside Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja. While the BCCI has not officially disclosed the retainership amounts, Group A was previously valued at Rs 5 crore annually, with Group B and C fetching Rs 3 crore and Rs 1 crore respectively before the A+ category was abolished.
Exclusions and Inclusions Signal Selector Intent
The men’s list has been trimmed from 34 to 30 players, with Mohammed Shami’s exclusion seen as a strong signal that he may be out of the selectors’ immediate plans. Ishan Kishan, Mukesh Kumar, and Sarfaraz Khan were also dropped after failing to play a single international match during the evaluation period. Although Kishan has since returned to the T20I setup, that comeback falls within the new contract cycle.
One notable inclusion is Sai Sudharsan, who stands as the only new entrant in the senior men’s contract list. On the women’s side, Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, and Deepti Sharma retained their Group A status, while Jemimah Rodrigues earned a well-deserved promotion following her standout performances in recent World Cup tournaments.
Implications for Indian Cricket
This contract overhaul reflects the BCCI’s evolving strategy to align player remuneration with current form, format participation, and long-term planning. The scrapping of the A+ category and the reshuffling of groups underscore a shift towards performance-based incentives rather than legacy-based rewards.
The exclusions of established players like Shami and Kishan highlight the competitive nature of selection and the board’s willingness to make tough decisions to foster a dynamic squad. As Indian cricket moves forward, these contracts will play a crucial role in shaping player commitments and national team composition across formats.
