The BCCI dropped a bombshell on Monday with the release of annual contracts for the 2025-26 season, reshaping the landscape for India’s senior men’s and women’s cricketers. Running from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026, the list demotes icons Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to Grade B, paving the way for a youth-driven resurgence.
Shubman Gill’s elevation to Grade A, alongside Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja, marks a clear succession plan. Bumrah’s perch as the premier pacer in the top grade cements his legacy, while Jadeja’s multifaceted skills keep him elite.
Grade B is stacked with reliability: Washington Sundar, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav, and Shreyas Iyer. Grade C, the broadest category, pulses with potential from Axar Patel to Ruturaj Gaikwad, including finishers like Rinku Singh, power-hitters Shivam Dube, and pacers Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna.
Breakouts like Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Abhishek Sharma, and Sai Sudharsan signal BCCI’s faith in domestic performers stepping up internationally.
Senior Men’s Contracts at a Glance:
Grade A – Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja
Grade B – Washington Sundar, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer
Grade C – Axar Patel, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Dhruv Jurel, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Abhishek Sharma, Sai Sudharsan, Ravi Bishnoi, Ruturaj Gaikwad
Women’s cricket thrives too, with Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Deepti Sharma leading Grade A. Dynamic players like Shefali Verma and Richa Ghosh bolster Grade B with Renuka Thakur and Sneh Rana. Grade C introduces fresh talent: Uma Chetry, Kranti Gaud, Kashvee Gautam, and more, alongside established names like Yastika Bhatia and Harleen Deol.
Complete Women’s List:
Grade A – Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma
Grade B – Renuka Thakur, Shefali Verma, Richa Ghosh, Sneh Rana
Grade C – Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, Pratika Rawal, Kranti Gaud, Uma Chetry, Arundhati Reddy, Sree Charani, Yastika Bhatia, Harleen Deol, Kashvee Gautam, G Kamalini, Vaishnavi Sharma, Tejal Hasabnis
This announcement isn’t just administrative—it’s a manifesto for India’s cricketing evolution, prioritizing form, fitness, and future potential.