Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma to be demoted in BCCI Central Contracts? Massive update arrives from Mumbai

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly decided to retain all senior players in the A+ category of its central contract list. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who retired from T20Is after India’s 2024 World Cup triumph, are expected to keep their A+ contracts due to their past performances.

Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah have been part of the A+ category in the BCCI's annual central contract. While all three regularly played across formats until last year, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja retired from T20Is. There are discussions within the BCCI about their retention in the A+ category.

Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma Likely to Retain A+ Central Contracts

According to a report by Hindustan Times, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah are likely to retain their A+ contracts for the 2024-25 cycle. The report added that the BCCI’s contract system follows a backdated review process.

Ravindra Jadeja was promoted to the A+ category in the 2023-24 central contract list. The senior all-rounder is also expected to retain his spot in the top bracket for the 2024-25 cycle. The report mentioned that T20I retirement will have no bearing on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

Selectors to Finalize Central Contract List Based on Performance

The selectors will finalize the new central contract list based on performances from October 2023 to September 2024. India finished as runner-up in the ODI World Cup 2023 and secured victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup and the Test series win against England.

A BCCI official stated that discussions are underway to advance the contract review by six months. The selections will reflect recent performances rather than outdated achievements.

“That’s the base of the next round of contracts,” a BCCI official said. “There will be a move to advance the next review by six months because there’s so much more that has transpired by the time the review is conducted that people base their judgements on that.”

Shreyas Iyer Likely to Regain BCCI Central Contract

Shreyas Iyer is expected to regain his central contract based on his performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup. He was previously in the B category for the 2022-23 cycle but missed out due to disagreements with the BCCI regarding his domestic commitments.

“He played in the entire domestic season, and that’s all that was expected of him. He also picked up form during these matches that helped him in the Champions Trophy,” the board official said.

Ishan Kishan, who was a regular in all formats before being dropped for skipping domestic cricket, could regain his central contract. Meanwhile, Mohammed Shami is likely to miss out as he has been sidelined with injuries.

Hardik Pandya could retain his contract due to his key role in India’s T20 World Cup victory. Players meeting the minimum requirement of three Tests, eight ODIs, or ten T20Is automatically qualify for the ₹1 crore Grade C contract.

Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan are set to secure contracts, while Yashasvi Jaiswal could earn a promotion from Grade B.

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