
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially released its central contract list for the 2025–26 season, categorizing 33 players across four grades: A+, A, B, and C. The structure remains consistent with previous years, rewarding players based on performance, fitness, and consistency across formats.
A+ Grade – ₹7 Crore
The A+ category continues to feature India’s most dependable and high-performing cricketers across all formats. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah have been retained at the top tier. Despite questions around transition and form, these four have maintained their stature with consistent leadership and match-winning performances on big stages.
A Grade – ₹5 Crore
The A grade includes players who are pivotal across one or two formats and have shown remarkable consistency. Rishabh Pant, back from a long injury layoff, has earned promotion to this bracket following his return to form. He is joined by pace spearhead Mohammed Siraj, rising star Shubman Gill, and experienced hands like KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, and Mohammed Shami. The category also welcomed fresh inclusions like Dhruv Jurel and Varun Chakaravarthy, who have shown promise in domestic and international outings.
B Grade – ₹3 Crore
Grade B features a mix of key squad players and consistent performers in select formats. Notables include Suryakumar Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Shreyas Iyer makes a notable return to the list in this grade after missing out last year. His strong domestic form and contributions during the Champions Trophy have helped restore his place in the BCCI’s plans.
C Grade – ₹1 Crore
The C grade, the broadest category, includes several young and emerging cricketers who are expected to play a bigger role in the future. This list features Rinku Singh, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, and others who have been part of India’s bench strength. First-time entrants include Dhruv Jurel, Sarfaraz Khan, Varun Chakaravarthy, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Abhishek Sharma, Akash Deep, and Harshit Rana.
Ishan Kishan, previously dropped from the list, has returned to Grade C after sorting his availability and fitness issues. His reintegration marks a second chance to reassert his credentials in the limited-overs setup.
Balancing Experience with Future Prospects
This contract list for 2025–26 reflects the BCCI’s balanced strategy of honoring proven performers while nurturing next-generation talent. The inclusion of players like Jurel, Reddy, and Chakaravarthy shows the board’s intent to expand its player pool with an eye on the 2026 T20 World Cup and the next ICC World Test Championship cycle.
The central contracts not only provide financial stability but also serve as a motivational framework, aligning players with expectations across formats. With a busy international calendar and key ICC events ahead, India’s contracted players will play a crucial role in shaping the team’s fortunes across formats and continents.