The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially released the Central Contracts list for the 2025–26 season on February 9, 2026, covering the period from October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026. The latest list reflects a major shift in Indian cricket’s structure, with a clear focus on performance, format specialization, and the transition toward a younger core.
One of the biggest changes this year is the removal of the Grade A+ category. The contract system has now been simplified into three categories — Grade A, Grade B, and Grade C. A total of 30 players have been included in the men’s list, which is four fewer than the previous season.
BCCI Central Contract 2025–26 List
| Grade | Estimated Annual Retainer | Key Players |
|---|---|---|
| Grade A | ₹5 Crore | Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja |
| Grade B | ₹3 Crore | Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Washington Sundar, Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer |
| Grade C | ₹1 Crore | Axar Patel, Sanju Samson, Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravi Bishnoi, Dhruv Jurel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Sai Sudharsan, Harshit Rana, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna |
Big Changes: Kohli & Rohit Demoted, Young Core Promoted
The most talked-about decision is the demotion of senior stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to Grade B. Both players are currently active in limited formats rather than all three, and the new contract system reflects format-based contribution and workload management.
Meanwhile, Shubman Gill has been rewarded with promotion to Grade A after consistent performances and growing leadership responsibilities. Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja remain among the most valuable all-format players.
The update signals a generational transition, with players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav, and Washington Sundar becoming central to India’s future plans.
Players Dropped from the Contract List
Several notable names have been excluded from the new contracts:
- Mohammed Shami
- Ishan Kishan
- Sarfaraz Khan
- Rajat Patidar
- Mukesh Kumar
The primary reason for their removal is limited or no international appearances during the contract cycle. Their future inclusion will depend on performance and national team selection in the coming months.
New Entrant and Emerging Talent
Young batter Sai Sudharsan is the only new entrant in the central contract list. His inclusion highlights the selectors’ focus on building depth and investing in emerging talent ahead of major global tournaments.
The large Grade C group includes several T20 specialists and young multi-format prospects, showing that the management is preparing a strong bench for the future.
What This Means for Team India
The 2025–26 contract list reflects a strategic shift by BCCI:
- Focus on performance and format specialization
- Clear transition toward a younger leadership group
- Simplified contract structure without Grade A+
- Emphasis on building a long-term core for upcoming ICC events
While senior players remain important, the latest decisions indicate that Indian cricket is entering a new phase where consistency, fitness, and availability across formats will play a major role in contract status.
With major tournaments ahead, these contracts provide a strong indication of Team India’s long-term roadmap.
