Word has it the Board of Control for Cricket in India may overhaul its central contracts, shaking up how top players are paid. This shift? It might pull down two big names from the highest tier. Rumors point at Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma – both now in the elite A+ group – possibly sliding into category B. That drop would trim their yearly income from ₹7 crore to just ₹4 crore. The move signals change, quiet but deep, near the heart of Indian cricket.
Right now, four top players hold A+ status: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja. Still, among them, just Bumrah plays Tests, ODIs, plus T20Is without break. After India took the 2024 World Cup, Jadeja stepped back from T20 international matches. Meanwhile, both Kohli and Sharma made it clear – they’re done with T20Is and Tests, so they’ll show up mostly for ODI games.
Talk about the new plan should come up when the BCCI meets again. Though nothing is set in stone just yet, it seems they want to pay more attention to who plays often and does well across all game types. Right now, salaries go by rank: top level gets 7 crore rupees, next down gets 5 crore, followed by 3 crore, then 1 crore for the lowest group listed.
Proposed Categories A Quick Look
Top marks go to Virat Kohli, who stands out with steady performance. Rohit Sharma earns the same praise, thanks to his sharp focus under pressure. Jasprit Bumrah makes an impact without flash, just precision. Ravindra Jadeja proves vital through quiet consistency rather than loud moments
Achievers include Mohammed Siraj, followed by KL Rahul. Then comes Shubman Gill, not far behind is Hardik Pandya. Mohammed Shami appears next, while Rishabh Pant completes the list
A solid lineup shows up here. Suryakumar Yadav holds the middle steady. Then comes Kuldeep Yadav, turning things sharply on the field. Axar Patel chips in with quiet reliability. Jaiswal pushes hard at the top. Shreyas Iyer follows through with calm presence
C Grade features Rinku Singh along with Tilak Varma. Ruturaj Gaikwad appears beside Shivam Dube.
Ravi Bishnoi is listed next to Washington Sundar. Mukesh Kumar joins Sanju Samson on the sheet. Arshdeep Singh follows Prasidh Krishna down the line. Rajat Patidar sits near Dhruv Jurel. Sarfaraz Khan stands close to Nitish Kumar Reddy. Ishan Kishan shows up with Abhishek Sharma. Akash Deep links to Varun Chakaravarthy. Harshit Rana ends the list
This shift reflects how Indian cricket keeps evolving, with steady results in every format shaping pay deals more than before. Even though Kohli and Rohit have left deep marks on
the sport, focusing mostly on just one version could weigh on what the board decides.
Virat Kohli Form Fitness Future
Even with less money on the line, Kohli’s latest performances stand out. A strong return came in Australia, where he struck a key fifty in the third one-day match, shaking off earlier low scores. At home versus South Africa, century after century flowed from him, then a rapid fifty – proof that stepping away from formats changes nothing about his drive. Time does not slow his need to score.
Fifteen years later, Kohli stepped back into domestic cricket for Delhi, picking up right where he left off. Not long after, in just two matches, a hundred came through along with a solid fifty – proof of steady brilliance. Then came New Zealand; more runs followed, including another century tucked between strong strokes. Through shorter games now, his path still moves forward, shaped by rhythm few maintain.
Rohit Sharma Highs Lows
Starting off well, Rohit Sharma hit a hundred and then a fifty down under. After that came more solid knocks, two fifties when facing South Africa. Back home, he lit up the Vijay Hazare game with a commanding 155 versus Sikkim. Things slowed later on, though – New Zealand saw him post just 25, then 24, then 11 in three tries.
Beyond their lasting impact on cricket, fewer appearances in short-format matches seem to drive the suggested reclassification along with reduced earnings.
Looking Ahead
One big question hangs over the next apex council gathering – how BCCI weighs past fame against current performance when handing out central contracts. Watching every move, supporters and match experts know payouts aren’t the only thing at stake. What happens could shape how India honors its rising stars down the road. The room where it’s decided holds more than just numbers – it holds direction.
Here’s the truth – should Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma shift to Category B, their impact on Indian cricket still stands unmatched. Salaries may change over time, yet what they’ve built in the sport holds immense value. Their presence reshaped how runs are scored, how matches are won. Numbers fade, but influence lingers long after. Even without titles, moments remain etched. What matters most isn’t listed in contracts – it lives in memory.
