After senior Indian batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli announced their retirement from Test cricket, there was widespread speculation about whether their central contract grade would be downgraded. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has now issued a clarification regarding this matter. Both Rohit and Kohli have been integral members of Team India for years and were recently included in the A+ category of BCCI’s central contracts.
Retirement Came as a Surprise
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli shocked the cricket world by announcing their Test retirements within a week, just before the England tour. They had already retired from T20 Internationals, and now they are only expected to represent India in ODIs. Despite playing in just one format, their central contract grade will not be downgraded. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed this in a statement to news agency ANI.
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Saikia Clarifies BCCI’s Position
Saikia stated, “Even though Rohit and Kohli have announced their retirement from T20s and now from Tests, they are still part of Indian cricket. Therefore, they will continue to enjoy the benefits of the A+ grade in the central contract.”
Last month, BCCI announced the annual central contracts for the 2024–2025 season, listing a total of 34 players. Four players were named in the elite A+ category, including Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. The others were Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja.
A+ Grade Players Receive ₹7 Crore Annually
Players in the A+ grade receive ₹7 crore annually. Players in Grade A get ₹5 crore, Grade B players receive ₹3 crore, and those in Grade C are paid ₹1 crore. To be eligible for inclusion in the BCCI’s central contract list, a player must have played at least three Tests, eight ODIs, or ten T20Is in the past year.
