BCCI unlikely to offer A+ Category in new central contract after ODI series defeat vs New Zealand

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is going to make a huge announcement about the central contracts system, which will change the grading and rewarding mechanism of India’s best players. Sources from India Today and ANI report that the selection committee headed by Ajit Agarkar has put forth the suggestion to abolish the elite Grade A+ category from the current retainership structure of four tiers.

Should the proposal be sanctioned by the BCCI’s apex council, the contracts will be categorized into three grades - A, B and C - instead of the current A+, A, B and C system. One of the most remarkable repercussions of this alteration would probably be the degradation of batting legends Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who are anticipated to be next year placed in Grade B for the 2025-26 season.

The decision was not totally unexpected. Grade A+ has usually been given to those players who participate in at least two international formats regularly. Both Kohli and Rohit hung up their boots in Test cricket during IPL 2025 and are now playing only in ODIs, thus it is hard to argue for their placement in the top fictional even under the old paradigm.

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At present, the annual retainer for Grade A+ is Rs 7 crore; while for A, B and C it is Rs 5 crore, Rs 3 crore and Rs 1 crore, respectively. Besides, the central contracts also provide the players with extra privileges such as round-the-clock access to the Centre of Excellence, medical treatment, and rehabilitation.

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The A+ category's future is uncertain but still the revision of the monetary slabs is unclear. Reports indicate that the selection committee wants to align the contracts not only with the past and the reputation but with the current workload, formats played, and long-term planning to a greater extent.

One of the most interesting topics is the future of Ravindra Jadeja, who is still active in Test cricket and in case the category survives in any form, he could still get a place in the top tier. On the other hand, Shubman Gill, who has recently been given leadership roles in both Tests and ODIs, is considered a strong candidate for promotion to the highest grade.

The apex council is scheduled to discuss the proposal in its next meeting. Until then, the future structure of Indian cricket's contract hierarchy remains a hot topic.