BCCI will reveal the central contract list within a few days, and as per some reports, BCCI is all set demote Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from the Grade A+ contract. Shubman Gill is likely to fill the vacancy. Reports also suggest that Ishan Kishan is all set to be in the central contracts list for 2026. Virat Kohli holds the Garde A+ contract right from the time when it was formed in 2018. Before that, there was no category named A+ that existed; it was Dhoni and Virat who proposed a new category for the best performers.
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In the 2025-2026 cycle, changes will be made based on the latest updates in the team as the top players, including Jadeja, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma has changed their international commitments. The respective contract grades are expected to see a change before the 2026 cycle.
Shubman Gill is likely to be promoted to Grade A+
In the 2024-2025 retainership programme, Shubman Gill was in the A category along with KL Rahul, Rishab Pant, Md Siraj, Hardik Pandya and Md Shami. Now it is going to be changed as Rohit and Virat retired from two formats and only continued to play the 50-over format. Shubman will likely fill the vacancy, as he has been promoted to the Indian captaincy and played all three formats for most of the year. Players who played three formats or at least contributed in three formats are included in the Garde A+ category.
Ishan Kishan can also get a contract, as he was named in the World Cup squad for 2026.
What is the BCCI Central Contract?
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) provides annual central contracts to Indian cricketers, ensuring financial stability and recognising their performance. These contracts are categorised into four grades:
- Grade A+: ₹7 crore per year
- Grade A: ₹5 crore per year
- Grade B: ₹3 crore per year
- Grade C: ₹1 crore per year
How can a player get the central contract?
To be eligible to qualify for a central contract, a player must have played at least 3 Test matches, 8 One-Day Internationals, or 10 Twenty20 Internationals in the ongoing year cycle. Players with central contracts enjoy benefits like free recovery at the National Cricket Academy, travel reimbursements, and access to top-notch training facilities.
