Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma likely to be demoted from BCCI's central contracts ahead of the T20 World Cup

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly expected to revise its central contracts this cycle at the board’s apex council meeting on December 22. According to reports, veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma may be demoted, and the updated contract list will be announced after the meeting.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli announced their retirements from T20Is together after lifting the 2024 T20 World Cup. The veteran duo retired from Tests within a few days of each other ahead of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Notably, they had played Ranji Trophy matches following the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

They were expected to feature in the England series, and Kohli was close to reaching the 10,000-run milestone in Tests. However, both chose to end their red-ball careers and shift their focus to ODIs and the IPL as they enter the final phase of their playing journeys.

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Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in BCCI’s Highest Contract Tier in the Last Cycle

Former Team India captains Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are in the BCCI’s highest contract tier, Grade A+, earning ₹7 crore each. Kohli has remained in this category since its introduction in 2018. Grade A+ is for players who are active in all three formats.

However, they were retained in the top bracket last cycle despite stepping away from T20Is after the 2024 T20 World Cup win. Since the BCCI gives more weightage to Tests and ODIs than T20Is, both remained in the top category.

The previous contract cycle ran from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025. Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja were also included alongside Rohit and Kohli in the top category.

BCCI Likely to Deduct ₹2 Crore Each from Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s Salaries

According to a report by the Times of India, the upcoming BCCI meeting will focus on the men’s central contracts. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli might be demoted in the contract list as they are now active only in ODI cricket.

"The major point of discussion will be the annual central contracts for the men’s team. Much attention will be on the grading of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, both of whom stepped away from Tests and T20Is over the past year and now play only ODI cricket," the report read.

If moved from Grade A+ to Grade A, their salaries would drop from ₹7 crore to ₹5 crore. The board’s current payout structure places players in four tiers: ₹7 crore for A+, ₹5 crore for A, ₹3 crore for B, and ₹1 crore for C.

How the BCCI Decides Annual Central Contract Grades

The BCCI reviews central contract grades every year, and the process factors in far more than reputation. A player’s recent performance, reliability, and overall impact during the previous cycle play a major role in determining whether they move up or down the list.

Eligibility also depends on match participation. Even senior players must meet minimum appearance requirements, such as a set number of Tests, ODIs, or T20Is, to stay on the contract chart. Simply playing more matches does not guarantee a higher grade.

When players are not on national duty, the BCCI requires them to take part in tournaments like the Ranji Trophy. This rule has become stricter in recent years, and non-compliance has already cost players such as Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan their contracts.

Also read: From Ranji to Riches: Players Set for IPL Breakthrough