The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to introduce a new central contract for Team India players, covering their annual retainership for the next year. This contract will bring significant changes, with at least five players likely to be excluded. Additionally, star cricketers Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja are expected to be demoted due to their reduced participation in certain formats.

Rohit, Virat, and Jadeja No Longer in A+ Category?

Currently, BCCI’s Grade A+ category consists of four players – Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja. Players in this elite category receive ₹7 crore annually. However, since Rohit, Virat, and Jadeja have each stepped away from one format, they may lose their A+ status. BCCI will decide whether they will be moved to Grade A or B.

Which Players Might Lose Their Contracts?

BCCI’s Grade A players receive ₹5 crore annually. This category currently includes Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Hardik Pandya. However, due to Ashwin’s retirement, he is expected to be removed from the contract list, while Siraj might be downgraded to Grade B.

Additionally, in Grade B (₹3 crore per year) and Grade C (₹1 crore per year), at least four players are likely to be excluded. Reports suggest that KS Bharat, Avesh Khan, Rajat Patidar, and Jitesh Sharma will not be retained.

Who Will Gain the Most in the New Contract?

With some senior players losing their spots, several young stars are expected to benefit:

• Shubman Gill could be promoted to A+.
• Yashasvi Jaiswal and Axar Patel may move from Grade B to Grade A.
• Shreyas Iyer, who was omitted from the previous contract over disciplinary reasons, has performed well in the Ranji Trophy, IPL, and Champions Trophy, making him a strong contender for inclusion.

New faces like Harshit Rana and Varun Chakravarthy are also likely to make it to the BCCI's central contract list.

Delayed Announcement and Final Decision Pending

The contract list was expected before IPL 2025, but BCCI has delayed the decision due to India's Champions Trophy campaign. If Rohit Sharma delivers a standout performance in the tournament final, it could impact his contract status.

The final contract list is set to be released soon, confirming the demotions, exclusions, and promotions for Team India players.