Reports: BCCI Drops Bombshell on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in Contract Shake-up!

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially signalled the changing of the guard. The latest central contracts list for the 2025-26 season is out, and the headline is undeniable: Indian cricket’s two biggest icons, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, have been demoted to Grade B.

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Why the Demotion? ft. Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma

For fans accustomed to seeing "Ro-Ko" at the pinnacle, this feels personal. However, the BCCI’s decision is strictly practical, grounded in the reality of the 2026 calendar. The board has reportedly scrapped the elite A+ category (previously worth ₹7 crore) entirely.

The demotion stems from a shift in workload. Both legends have stepped away from T20 Internationals and, crucially, Test cricket, limiting their national duty primarily to the ODI format. With the board prioritising multi-format availability, the "current contribution" of these veterans no longer aligns with the top-tier criteria, despite their legendary status. It is a clear message from the Ajit Agarkar-led committee to Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli: financial rewards are for the present workload, not past glory.

The New "Grade A" Kings

With the A+ bracket gone, Grade A is now the premier tier. It used to feature both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for over a decade, but now it features just three names who are pivotal across the remaining formats:

Shubman Gill (Now leading the Test and ODI sides)

Jasprit Bumrah (Pace spearhead)

Ravindra Jadeja (All-round ace)

Who Else Made the Cut?

The list reveals a crowded Grade B and a youth-heavy Grade C, highlighting India's deep bench strength.

Grade B: Alongside Rohit Sharma and ViratKohli, this tier includes T20 specialists and multi-format regulars like Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, and KL Rahul. Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal also find their place here.

Grade C: This massive list rewards the rising stars. Names like Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, and Sanju Samson feature prominently. New sensations like Nitish Kumar Reddy and Abhishek Sharma have also earned their stripes.

This contract list isn't just a salary update; it's a statement. The baton hasn't just been passed; it has been firmly gripped by the next generation.