The winds of change have officially swept through the corridors of Indian cricket. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has released its much-anticipated BCCI central contracts for the 2025-26 season, and the list reads like a declaration of a new order. In a move that marks the symbolic end of a golden generation, icons Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been shifted from the prestigious Grade A+ to Grade B. The mantle has now firmly passed to a new triumvirate: Jasprit Bumrah, Shubman Gill, and Ravindra Jadeja.
For the first time in recent memory, the highest echelon of the BCCI’s men’s central contracts—Grade A—features just three names, and none of them are the two most celebrated batters of the last decade. Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, the undisputed leader of India’s pace attack across all formats, headlines the list. His consistency, fitness, and match-winning ability make him the cornerstone of the current setup.
Alongside him are two players who represent the present and future of Indian batting and all-round play: elegant opener Shubman Gill and the evergreen warrior Ravindra Jadeja. This trio embodies the balance, youth, and experience that the selectors are banking on to lead India into the next cycle of ICC tournaments [[1]].
The most seismic change is the removal of the Grade A+ category for the men’s team, which effectively demotes both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to Grade B. This decision is a direct reflection of their current playing status. Both legends have retired from T20Is and are now focused solely on ODIs, with their Test futures also appearing uncertain [[1]].
The BCCI’s central contract system is designed to reward current contribution and availability across formats. With Kohli and Sharma no longer part of the T20 World Cup 2026 squad and playing a limited schedule, their placement in Grade B is a logical, if emotionally jarring, administrative move. It’s not a slight on their immense legacy but a pragmatic acknowledgment of their transition from full-time stars to senior statesmen.
For those unfamiliar, the BCCI’s annual central contracts are a crucial part of a player’s income and status. They guarantee a fixed retainer fee on top of match fees and are divided into grades based on performance, seniority, and format commitment:
The scrapping of the Grade A+ (which was ₹7 Crore, same as the new Grade A) streamlines the system and clearly delineates the board’s current priorities. Players like KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, and Hardik Pandya find themselves in Grade B alongside the two legends, while exciting talents like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rinku Singh are in Grade C, marking their arrival at the top table [[1]].
The BCCI also announced contracts for 22 female players, showcasing its continued investment in the women’s game. The standout story here is the promotion of dynamic batter Jemimah Rodrigues to Grade A, joining captain Harmanpreet Kaur and star all-rounder Deepti Sharma. This is a well-deserved recognition of Jemimah’s consistent performances across formats and her status as one of the most exciting young talents in world cricket [[1]].
While fans may feel a pang of nostalgia, this contract list is a masterstroke of forward planning by the BCCI. It sends a clear message: the future is now. By financially and symbolically backing Bumrah, Gill, and Jadeja as the core, the board is ensuring stability and leadership for the upcoming challenges, including the T20 World Cup 2026 and the 2027 ODI World Cup.
It also creates a healthy competitive environment. Young players in Grade C know that exceptional, multi-format performances can fast-track them to the top, just as it has for Gill and Jaiswal. This merit-based approach is essential for maintaining India’s position as a cricketing superpower. [INTERNAL_LINK:bcci-central-contracts-history] shows how this system has evolved to nurture talent over the years.
The new BCCI central contracts for 2025-26 are more than just a list of names and numbers; they are a roadmap for Indian cricket’s future. The demotion of Kohli and Sharma isn’t a fall from grace—it’s a graceful step back, allowing the next generation to step into the spotlight. It’s a respectful passing of the torch, acknowledging the past while boldly investing in what comes next. The era of Bumrah, Gill, and Jadeja has officially begun.
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