Fresh Delhi – In a significant shakeup of its player contracts, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has downgraded veteran stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, while also omitting Ishan Kishan from the annual list. The changes, announced on February 7, 2026, reflect a shift in the BCCI’s contract structure and player evaluation criteria.
The ‘A Plus’ category, previously reserved for the highest-paid players, has been eliminated entirely, according to reports from Asianet News Malayalam. Kohli and Sharma have both been moved down to the ‘B’ grade, while Shreyas Iyer has been reinstated into the contract system.
The BCCI has streamlined the annual contracts to just three grades – A, B, and C – a move recommended by the selection committee, Mathrubhumi reported. This restructuring comes as both Kohli and Sharma have largely focused on limited-overs cricket for India, having retired from Test and T20 formats.
Despite their reduced contract grade, both Kohli and Sharma remain key figures in the Indian batting lineup, currently holding top positions in the ICC ODI rankings – Kohli at number one and Sharma at number three. The decision to downgrade the experienced duo signals a potential move towards prioritizing players actively involved across all formats.
Ishan Kishan’s continued omission from the contract list raises questions about his future with the national team. Sanju Samson, still, retains his place in the contract system. Webdunia Malayalam notes that Kishan has not been included in the latest contract announcements.
The BCCI’s revised contract system aims to recognize and reward players based on their current participation and performance across all international formats. The changes are expected to have implications for player motivation and selection policies moving forward. Manorama Online also reported on the changes.
