The BCCI's Contract Shuffle: A New Hierarchy Unveiled
In a recent development, the BCCI's men's contract list for 2025-26 has sparked intrigue and debate among cricket enthusiasts. The list, effective from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026, has seen some notable shifts and surprises.
But here's where it gets controversial...
The top tier, or Category A, now consists of just three players: Shubman Gill, the new Test and ODI captain, fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who holds the record for being India's most experienced active Test player. This trio forms the elite group at the pinnacle of Indian cricket.
And this is the part most people miss...
The absence of an A+ grade, which was present in the 2024-25 list, has resulted in a significant change. Former captains Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who now focus on one international format each, have been relegated to Category B. This move has sparked discussions about the criteria for contract grades and the impact on player motivation.
Gill's ascent to the top tier is a testament to his leadership and performance. He has taken over the captaincy from Rohit and is now leading the Indian team in both Test and ODI formats. His inclusion in Category A is a clear indication of his importance to the team's future.
T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav finds himself in Category B, alongside experienced players like Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Hardik Pandya. This category seems to be a blend of established stars and emerging talents.
However, the most intriguing move is the demotion of Axar Patel, a key spin-bowling all-rounder, from Grade B to Category C. Despite his vital role in white-ball cricket and his vice-captaincy in the ongoing T20 World Cup, Axar's contract grade has taken a hit. This decision has left many fans and experts questioning the BCCI's evaluation process.
The BCCI has also trimmed the overall men's list from 34 to 30 players, with senior fast bowler Mohammed Shami and others missing out. The absence of payscales for the three contract categories adds another layer of mystery to the entire process.
List of BCCI-contracted players for 2025-26:
Category A: Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja
Category B: Washington Sundar, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer
Category C: Axar Patel, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Dhruv Jurel, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Abhishek Sharma, B Sai Sudharsan, Ravi Bishnoi, Ruturaj Gaikwad
So, what do you think? Is the BCCI's contract list a fair representation of player value and performance? Or does it raise more questions than it answers? Feel free to share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
