The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced its central contracts for the 2026–27 cycle, and one major change has already caught attention across Indian cricket.
Unlike previous years, the A+ category has been removed from the contract system. This decision has shifted the spotlight onto Jasprit Bumrah, who is now considered the leading candidate for the highest contract tier.
With senior stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli reducing their involvement in certain formats and Ravindra Jadeja no longer active in the shortest format, Bumrah remains one of the few players performing consistently across formats. His situation has pushed the BCCI to rethink how the central contract pay structure should work going forward.
Why the BCCI Removed the A+ Category
The A+ category was introduced in 2018 to reward players who performed consistently across all formats and were among the best cricketers in the world.
Over the years, players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja were placed in this top bracket. However, the current scenario is different because several senior players have reduced their participation in some formats.
Instead of keeping a single player in the A+ category, the BCCI decided to remove the bracket completely and restructure the contract list into simpler groups.
New Contract Structure
The 2026–27 central contracts now include only three grades:
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| Grade A | Top-performing players across formats |
| Grade B | Regular players in multiple formats |
| Grade C | Emerging and limited-format players |
This move simplifies the system but has also raised questions about whether top performers like Bumrah might face a change in their overall earnings.
Jasprit Bumrah Now at the Centre of the Debate
With the A+ category gone, Jasprit Bumrah is now placed in Grade A.
He shares this tier with players such as Shubman Gill and Ravindra Jadeja. However, Bumrah is widely regarded as India’s most important fast bowler across formats, which makes his placement in the same category as others an important discussion point.
Under the previous structure, the A+ category offered the highest annual contract value. Since that bracket no longer exists, the BCCI is now evaluating whether the new system fairly rewards players who deliver elite performances across formats.
Inside the board, there is reportedly ongoing discussion about adjusting the pay valuation so that Bumrah’s earnings remain close to the previous top bracket level even within the simplified structure.
BCCI Central Contracts 2026–27: Full Player List
The BCCI has released the official list of contracted players for the men’s team across Grade A, B, and C.
Grade A Players
| Players |
|---|
| Jasprit Bumrah |
| Shubman Gill |
| Ravindra Jadeja |
| KL Rahul |
| Mohammed Siraj |
| Hardik Pandya |
| Rishabh Pant |
| Kuldeep Yadav |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal |
| Suryakumar Yadav |
| Shreyas Iyer |
| Nitish Kumar Reddy |
| Abhishek Sharma |
| Ravi Bishnoi |
Grade B Players
| Players |
|---|
| Washington Sundar |
| Rohit Sharma |
| Virat Kohli |
| Shivam Dube |
| Sanju Samson |
| Arshdeep Singh |
| Prasidh Krishna |
| Akash Deep |
| Dhruv Jurel |
| Harshit Rana |
| Varun Chakravarthy |
Grade C Players
| Players |
|---|
| Axar Patel |
| Tilak Varma |
| Rinku Singh |
| Sai Sudarshan |
| Ruturaj Gaikwad |
Surprising Contract Placements
Some player placements in the new contract list have also sparked debate.
Axar Patel’s Position
Axar Patel has been an important performer in India’s white-ball teams and even held a T20I vice-captaincy role recently. Despite that, he has been placed in Grade C, which has raised questions among observers.
Players Moving Down a Grade
A few experienced players have also seen a drop compared to earlier cycles.
| Player | Previous Status | Current Grade |
|---|---|---|
| KL Rahul | Higher grade earlier | Grade A |
| Mohammed Siraj | Higher grade earlier | Grade A |
| Hardik Pandya | Higher grade earlier | Grade A |
| Rishabh Pant | Higher grade earlier | Grade A |
Although these players continue to play major roles for India, the simplified structure has reshuffled the hierarchy.
The removal of the A+ category has created an important conversation about how elite players should be valued in the future.
Jasprit Bumrah’s situation highlights the challenge. He remains one of the world’s best fast bowlers and a key player in all formats for India. The BCCI now faces the task of ensuring that players of his stature receive appropriate recognition and financial value within the new structure.
The board has not yet publicly confirmed the exact salary figures for each grade, and players are still waiting for official clarity. Discussions are ongoing about refining the valuation system so that top performers are not disadvantaged by the simplified contract model.
The new central contracts mark an important transition for Indian cricket’s payment system. While the simplified grades make the structure easier to understand, the board may still introduce adjustments to protect the value of world-class players.
Jasprit Bumrah’s case has already triggered discussions inside the board, and further tweaks to the contract valuation could follow in the coming months.
For now, the 2026–27 contract cycle signals a shift in how the BCCI evaluates players, with performance, format participation, and long-term value likely to play a bigger role in future decisions.
