In a significant development for the Indian cricket team, BCCI is planning to release its updated list of central contracts for the senior men’s team. Despite their recent contributions to India’s ICC Championship Trophy 2025 win, star cricketers like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja may find their names in lower contract grades, as per a report by Dainik Jagran.
Future of senior players under watch
As per the report, a crucial meeting is scheduled to take place on March 29 in Guwahati, where selectors and BCCI officials will be discussing the upcoming Test series against England. During this meeting, the central contract list is also slated to be finalised. One of the major points that will be discussed includes the future of veteran stars who are reportedly no longer in India’s T20I plans because of their retirement after the last T20 World Cup.
The Times of India has earlier stated that BBCI is re-working its criteria for the prestigious Grade A+ category, which may now be reserved for cricketers who may now be reserved for the ones who are regularly performing across all the three formats. As per current status, Kohli, Rohit, and Jadeja are only active in playing ODIs and Tests; their eligibility for top-tier contracts is in question.
Preference to be given to new faces
A few surprises may be on the cards, as the board is considering a performance-based approach that will give preference to multi-format players. Meanwhile, pacer Jasprit Bumrah continues to be a likely candidate to hold on to his Grade A+ status because of his performance across formats. Players like Rishabh Pant, Shubhman Gill, and Mohammed Siraj may witness upward movement.
Another name attracting attention is Shreyas Iyer. After being left out from last year’s contract list because of disciplinary reasons, the middle-order batsman has made a stunning comeback. His recent performance in the Champions Trophy and his constant domestic achievement may earn him a place once again. While the official announcement is awaited, the upcoming changes highlight a major shift in BCCI focus from legacy to current performance.