BCCI Central Contracts 2025–26: BCCI just dropped a bombshell that’s got everyone talking. On February 9, 2026—right in the middle of the T20 World Cup fever—the Board of Control for Cricket in India announced its central contracts for the 2025-26 season.
The biggest headline? The elite A+ category is gone. Now only A, B, and C grades remain for both men’s and women’s teams. While the women’s list stayed unchanged, the men’s side saw some huge names slide down the ladder.
It’s tough to see legends take a hit, but this feels like the BCCI’s way of saying: “formats matter, fitness matters, and so does current role.”
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma Slip to Grade B
Virat Kohli, the chase king and former T20 World Cup hero, drops from A+ to B. He retired from T20Is after the 2024 triumph and walked away from Tests following the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Now he’s fully focused on ODIs. Rohit Sharma follows the same path—also down to B after quitting T20Is and Tests. Both moves make sense on paper, but seeing these two icons in Grade B instead of the top tier still hurts for millions of fans.
More Big Names Take a Hit
Mohammed Siraj falls from A to B even though he’s still in the 2026 T20 World Cup squad. Hardik Pandya, the white-ball all-rounder, also drops to B. His Test career ended way back in 2018 due to injuries, and the BCCI has been carefully managing his workload.
KL Rahul, who’s been brilliant in Tests and ODIs, slips to B after staying away from T20Is since 2022. Axar Patel takes the biggest tumble—from B to C—despite being T20I vice-captain and contributing steadily across formats.
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Who Held Strong?
On the positive side, Jasprit Bumrah, Shubman Gill, and Ravindra Jadeja keep their Grade A status. In the women’s team, Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana stay rock-solid in the top grade—no changes there.
These BCCI central contracts changes are clearly tied to format focus, current form, fitness, and workload management. The board seems to be rewarding players who are active across more formats while being careful with those in phased retirement or limited roles.
As a fan, it feels bittersweet. These players have given us unforgettable moments. A strong comeback could easily push them back up next year. Cricket loves a redemption story, right?
What do you think about these demotions? Fair or harsh? Drop your thoughts below—I’d love to hear!
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