In what could be one of the most consequential shifts in Indian cricket, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is poised to overhaul its central contract framework including the likely abolition of the elite Grade A+ category and the consequential demotion of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from the top tier.
For decades, the A+ tier has stood as the pinnacle of contract remuneration, reserved for India’s most esteemed all-format performers. In the 2024–25 season, only four men — Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja — occupied this grade, each receiving ₹7 crore plus match fee.
But with Rohit and Kohli now featuring predominantly in one-day internationals and having stepped away from Tests and T20Is, selectors have questioned the continued relevance of a standalone elite bracket. The Ajit Agarkar-led senior selection committee has reportedly backed scrapping the A+ label altogether, instead condensing the system into three categories — A, B and C — based primarily on current format engagement and recent performance.
If this proposal receives formal approval from the BCCI’s apex council, both Kohli and Sharma are expected to be placed in Grade B, which currently carries a ₹3 crore match fee, a significant reduction from their previous pay band and symbolic of their evolving roles within the setup.
The restructuring aims to simplify the pay hierarchy, reduce disparities between veterans and emerging stars, and reward consistent contributors across formats rather than legacy status alone. The board is also expected to finalise revised monetary slabs along with the new structure.
While final confirmation is awaited, the proposed change marks a rare contractual shake-up with profound implications not just financially, but for how India’s cricketing icons are positioned as the sport enters its next generational phase.
– Samuthiran
