BCCI to Promote Shreyas Iyer in Central Contract, Virat Kohli to be Demoted

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to announce its annual contracts for players. Unlike last year, when the list was revealed on February 28, there has been a delay this time as the board wants to assess players’ performances in the ongoing Champions Trophy before making a decision.

Top Grade Under Review?

Currently, the A+ category includes four players: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja. This grade is given to players who perform consistently across all formats. However, Rohit, Kohli, and Jadeja retired from T20Is last year. Their performance in Tests has also been average, as India failed to reach the World Test Championship final.

A strong showing in the Champions Trophy might help them retain their top contracts. A BCCI source told The Times of India that the board will wait for Rohit Sharma’s decision after the tournament. If he retires, the board will review the contracts accordingly.

“One can’t ignore that Rohit won the T20 World Cup in July and has led well in the Champions Trophy,” the source added.

Shreyas Iyer’s Return Likely

Shreyas Iyer lost his central contract last year because he skipped domestic cricket. However, he remains a key player in India’s ODI squad. This makes him a strong candidate to regain his contract. On the other hand, Ishan Kishan, who has not played international cricket since November 2023, may still miss out.

How Many Players Will Get Contracts?

Last year, 30 players received BCCI contracts. The structure was:

• Grade A+: 4 players
• Grade A: 6 players
• Grade B: 5 players
• Grade C: 15 players

Additionally, five fast bowlers—Akash Deep, Yash Dayal, Umran Malik, Vijaykumar Vyshak, and V Kaverappa—were given separate fast-bowling contracts.

With the Champions Trophy nearing its end, the BCCI is expected to announce the contracts soon. The final decision will likely depend on individual performances in the tournament.