BCCI Considers Contract Value Revision After Scrapping A+ Category
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently eliminated the A+ category from its player retainership system, citing a lack of eligible candidates. However, sources indicate the board may now be forced to reassess the valuation structure of existing contracts to prevent consistent performers from suffering financial losses compared to previous years.
Jasprit Bumrah at the Center of Contract Controversy
India's premier fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, finds himself at the heart of this issue. Having consistently received Grade A+ contracts since their introduction in the 2018-19 season, Bumrah was placed in Grade A this year by default following the category's removal. Under the old system, Grade A+ players earned Rs 7 crore annually, while Grade A players received Rs 5 crore. The BCCI has not officially communicated the monetary value of this season's contracts to the players.
The A+ category was specifically designed for players who commanded a place in all three formats of the game and held a world ranking within the top 10 in at least one format. With the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from two formats, and Ravindra Jadeja stepping away from T20Is, Bumrah remained the sole candidate qualifying for A+ status. Consequently, his demotion to Grade A could result in a significant pay cut, from Rs 7 crore to Rs 5 crore, unless the board intervenes.
Axar Patel and Other Players Affected
Another notable case is that of India's T20I vice-captain, Axar Patel. An integral part of the T20I and ODI setups during the 2024-25 season, Axar was awarded a Grade C contract, valued at Rs 1 crore last year. Analysis of the official criteria from 2018-19 reveals that Axar, as the world No. 11 all-rounder in T20Is in 2025 and a key contributor to India's successes, met at least two of the four criteria required for a Grade A or B contract.
"The board is trying to figure out how Bumrah can be compensated. It is understandable that it will be unfair to slash his fees from Rs 7 cr to Rs 5 cr. There are some other players also who seem to have moved down a grade despite being performers. There could be a revision in the valuation of the contracts," a BCCI source informed TOI.
Additional players impacted include KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, Hardik Pandya, and Rishabh Pant, all of whom were downgraded from Grade A to Grade B. Rahul has been a consistent performer in Tests and ODIs, while Siraj and Pant excelled during India's Test tour of England. Pandya remains a core member of the ODI and T20I squads. Historically, the BCCI has considered injury layoffs and ensured players are not penalized for missing cricket due to health issues.
Contract Criteria and Potential Revisions
The original contract criteria, as accessed by TOI, stipulated that for a Grade A contract, a player must fulfill any two of the following:
- Participation in any two formats
- Automatic selection in the team
- Ranking among the top 15 in world rankings
- Automatic selection in the Test team with 40 or more matches
For Grade B, the requirements included any two of:
- Participation in any two formats
- Automatic selection in the team
- Ranking among the top 20 in world rankings
- Automatic selection in the Test team with 60 or more matches
It remains unclear whether the BCCI has revised these criteria for the current season. The board's decision to omit monetary details in this year's retainership announcement has fueled speculation about impending adjustments. India experienced a highly successful year in white-ball cricket during the 2024-25 season, though Test cricket saw mixed results with lows at home and in Australia, balanced by a series-leveling performance in England.
The potential contract revision underscores the BCCI's challenge in balancing financial structures with player performance and retention, ensuring that top athletes like Bumrah and Axar are fairly compensated for their contributions to Indian cricket.
