The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to rework its men’s annual central contracts structure, with the A-plus category likely to be suspended for the 2025–26 season. The move reflects changing international commitments of senior Indian cricketers, especially Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Under the current system, the A-plus category carries an annual retainer of ₹7 crore, followed by ₹5 crore in Category A, ₹3 crore in Category B, and ₹1 crore in Category C. However, for the upcoming cycle, the BCCI is expected to retain only A, B, and C categories, temporarily putting the top tier on hold.
A-plus category likely suspended due to changing player format commitments
Last season, only four players—Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja—featured in the A-plus bracket. Among them, Bumrah is now the only cricketer active in all three formats. Kohli and Rohit have stepped away from Test and T20I cricket and are currently available only for ODIs. Jadeja continues to play Tests and ODIs, having retired from T20Is after the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Since eligibility for the A-plus category is closely linked to participation across all formats, the number of qualifying players has significantly reduced. As a result, continuing the top tier no longer aligns with the present team structure.
Sources within the BCCI have clarified that the decision is not aimed at downgrading any player. Instead, it is meant to ensure the contracts system accurately reflects current workloads, format commitments, and player availability. One-format specialists are unlikely to be considered for the A-plus bracket, making its continuation impractical for now.
Despite the restructuring, Jasprit Bumrah is not expected to face any reduction in earnings. The fast bowler remains a vital part of India’s plans across formats, even as his workload is carefully managed through rotation and rest.
The BCCI is expected to officially announce the centrally contracted players for the 2025–26 season in the coming weeks. The revised list will take into account format involvement, fitness, and workload management, marking a significant shift in how India’s elite cricketers are contracted.
