The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially released the Annual Player Retainership (central contracts) for both the Senior Men’s and Women’s teams for the 2025-26 season, marking a significant change in the landscape of Indian cricket.
These central contracts, which cover the period from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026, feature 30 players divided into three grades. This notable restructuring includes the elimination of the elite A+ category from previous years.
The New Structure: Virat and Rohit Downgraded to Grade B
In an unexpected turn, the prestigious Grade A+ category has been abolished, resulting in the demotion of renowned players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Following the national selection committee’s advice, chaired by Ajit Agarkar, the BCCI has reorganized the contract system into three groups: Grade A, Grade B, and Grade C. This shift reflects a new approach that emphasizes multi-format availability and player workload over historical contributions.
Since both Rohit and Virat have retired from T20Is and Tests to concentrate solely on ODIs, they no longer meet the criteria for the top tier, which is now designated for players competing across all formats.
Men’s Central Contracts 2025-26
Grade A: The New Elite
The top-tier Grade A contracts have been allotted to just three players, recognized as the foundation of India’s current campaigns across all formats. Leading this group are Shubman Gill (current captain for Test and ODI), Jasprit Bumrah (India’s top fast bowler), and veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. Their inclusion at this elite level underscores their crucial roles in the team’s ongoing achievements.
Players: Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja.
Grade B: Experienced Leaders & Format Specialists
Grade B consists of a robust mix of seasoned players and significant contributors, including former captains and impactful performers.
Players: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav (T20I captain), Washington Sundar, KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shreyas Iyer.
Grade C: The Rising Talents
Sixteen players have been awarded Grade C contracts, featuring several newcomers who have shone in domestic and international matches as well as specialists.
Players: Axar Patel, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Dhruv Jurel, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Abhishek Sharma, Sai Sudharsan, Ravi Bishnoi, Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Key Takeaways and Notable Omissions
Shocking Absences: High-profile players Mohammed Shami and Ishan Kishan are notably absent from the central contracts list for the 2025-26 season. While Shami has not been actively part of the team lately, Kishan’s exclusion is surprising given his selection for the 2026 T20 World Cup squad.
Emerging Players: Sai Sudharsan and Nitish Kumar Reddy have secured their first central contracts, reflecting their consistent performances in the IPL and domestic circuits.
Women’s Retainership Highlights
In the Women’s category, star player Jemimah Rodrigues has earned a promotion to Grade A following her strong performances in the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup. She joins Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, and Deepti Sharma in the top tier.
Grade A: Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma.
Grade B: Renuka Thakur, Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh, Sneh Rana, Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, Pratika Rawal, Kranti Gaud, Uma Chetry, Arundhati Reddy.
Grade C: Shree Charani, Yastika Bhatia, Harleen Deol, Kashvee Gautam, G Kamalini, Vaishnavi Sharma, Tejal Hasabnis.
