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Kohli & Rohit Demoted to Grade B in BCCI's 2025-26 Central Contracts

The BCCI has announced its central contracts for the 2025-26 season, with star veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma notably moved down to Grade B. Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill, along with Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja, headline the men's Grade A list. In the women's category, captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Deepti Sharma have been offered the top Grade A contracts. The board has abolished the Grade A+ category for this season, restructuring the contract tiers.

Key Points: BCCI Contracts: Kohli, Rohit Moved to Grade B for 2025-26

  • Kohli & Rohit demoted to Grade B
  • Gill, Bumrah, Jadeja in top Grade A
  • Pant gets Grade B despite Test vice-captaincy
  • Grade A+ category abolished for season
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Kohli, Rohit moved to "Grade B" in BCCI's latest central contract list

BCCI announces central contracts: Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma moved to Grade B. Shubman Gill, Bumrah, Jadeja in Grade A. Full list of men's & women's players.

Kohli, Rohit moved to "Grade B" in BCCI's latest central contract list
"veteran cricketers Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been moved to 'Grade B' - BCCI Announcement"

Mumbai, February 9

The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Monday announced the Annual Player Contracts for Team India senior men and women teams for the 2025-26 season.

In a major development, veteran cricketers Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been moved to 'Grade B' in BCCI's central contract list for 2025-26.

India Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja have been placed in Grade A among the men, while India women's captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma feature in the top bracket on the women's side.

Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been offered a Grade B contract despite being a regular member in Test side. Pant was appointed vice-captain of the Test team in 2025.

ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer also placed in Grade B, alongside KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, among others.

In the women's category, Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Deepti Sharma were offered Grade A contracts. Renuka Thakur, Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh are among the 10 players in Grade B.

The BCCI Central Contracts are divided into three categories: Grade A, Grade B, and Grade C. The Grade A+ category has been abolished for the 2025-26 season.

Team India (Senior Men) Annual Contracts 2025-26:

Grade A: Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja.

Grade B: Washington Sundar, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer.

Grade C: Axar Patel, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Dhruv Jurel, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy. Nitish Kumar Reddy, Abhishek Sharma, Sai Sudharsan, Ravi Bishnoi, Ruturaj Gaikwad.

Team India (Senior Women) Annual Contracts 2025-26:

Grade A: Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma.

Grade B: Renuka Thakur, Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh, Sneh Rana.

Grade C: Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, Pratika Rawal, Kranti Gaud, Uma Chetry, Arundhati Reddy, Sree Charani, Yastika Bhatia, Harleen Deol, Kashvee Gautam, G Kamalini, Vaishnavi Sharma, Tejal Hasabnis.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
It's a clear signal that the transition is happening. Gill, Bumrah, and Jadeja are the core now. It's tough but necessary for the team's future. Good to see the women's contracts getting equal prominence in the article too.
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Ananya R
While I understand the need to promote young talent, this decision lacks *izzat* (respect). Their experience is invaluable for the dressing room. Hope they don't feel demotivated. On the bright side, so happy for Shubman Gill! 🏏
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Vikram M
Contracts should be based on current form and future potential, not past glory. Both are playing less cricket now. This is a pragmatic move by BCCI. The money saved can be invested in domestic cricket infrastructure.
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Priya S
Feel for Rishabh Pant a bit. He's the Test vice-captain and still in Grade B? Meanwhile, so many new faces in Grade C! Great to see the pool expanding. The women's list looks strong, Harmanpreet and Smriti truly deserve Grade A.
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Michael C
As an outsider following Indian cricket, this is fascinating. It shows a very professional, almost corporate approach to team management. No player is bigger than the system. Bold move.

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