The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to introduce a major overhaul of its central contracts system for the 2025-26 season, with plans to remove the A+ category altogether. The move is aimed at simplifying the structure and aligning player remuneration more closely with current multi-format involvement.
At present, the BCCI follows a four-tier system, with A+ cricketers earning Rs 7 crore annually, followed by Category A (Rs 5 crore), B (Rs 3 crore) and C (Rs 1 crore). Under the proposed revamp, players will be grouped only into Categories A, B and C, effectively doing away with the elite A+ bracket that was introduced in 2018.
In the last contract cycle, only four players - Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra
Jadeja - featured in the A+ category. However, the current team composition has played a significant role in prompting the change. Among those four, Bumrah is the only cricketer who continues to feature across all three formats. Kohli and Rohit now play only ODIs, while Jadeja represents India in Tests and ODIs after retiring from T20Is.
Despite the structural change, Bumrah is not expected to face any financial setback. According to a BCCI official quoted by PTI, "This is being done to simplify the contract structure. There are not many players who are part of all formats. Someone like Bumrah, who remains one of the few all format players, will continue to be placed in the highest category and there would be no paycut. " Reports suggest Category A players could now receive Rs 7 crore annually, effectively absorbing the previous A+ pay scale.
India's current Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill is also set to be placed in Category A, reflecting his leadership role and importance across formats. In contrast, senior stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are likely to be moved to Category B, given their limited-format commitments.
The changes may also impact players like Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, all of whom remain active across formats. While Kuldeep and Axar were previously in Category B, Sundar was placed in Category C, indicating possible reshuffling in the middle tiers depending on revised pay slabs.
The revamped contracts will be formally ratified at the upcoming Apex Council meeting. Notably, the A+ category was first introduced when the BCCI was run by the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators, making its removal a symbolic return to a leaner contract model.
