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Kohli, Rohit, Bumrah, Jadeja could move to Grade A under proposed overhaul
January 20, 2026: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) may be considering a major overhaul of its men’s central contract structure, with reports suggesting that the elite Grade A+ category could be phased out. Currently, the A+ bracket includes senior stars Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja, each earning Rs 7 crore annually apart from match fees. If the top tier is removed, these players are likely to be moved into the Grade A category, which presently includes names such as Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami and Rishabh Pant.
According to a report by IANS, the proposed changes are expected to be discussed at the next BCCI Apex Council meeting. A five-member selection committee led by chief selector Ajit Agarkar is learnt to have prepared certain recommendations regarding the central contract grading system, which will be placed before the council once a meeting date is finalised.
At present, BCCI’s central contracts are divided into four categories — A+, A, B and C — with Grade C including relatively newer players who earn Rs 1 crore annually. While the possible removal of the A+ category has sparked widespread discussion, there has been no official confirmation from the BCCI so far, and any final decision will depend on deliberations at the Apex Council level.