BCCI Central Contracts Update: Shreyas Iyer, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma Set to Get Hefty Boost

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will retain their highest central contracts with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in the 2025-2026 season even though both the players retired from T20I cricket following India's record-breaking T20 World Cup triumph in 2024. Both players will remain on the highest A+ contract list which ensures them Rs 7 crore, as a mark of respect for their massive contribution to Indian cricket. Even though their T20I careers are finished, their input towards Indian cricket is still much felt, and the BCCI has been respectful towards their contribution by retaining them at the highest grade of contracts.

Even after retirement from T20 internationals, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are still prized possessions of the Indian side in other forms. Rohit, possessing white-ball skill and leadership calibre to his credit, retired from T20I cricket on a high note by assisting India in winning the T20 World Cup. Nevertheless, his present Test match performance has been subject to criticism since he has been unable to recreate his past records in the Test version of the game. Rohit's recent Test series performances have not been great, such as the poor series against New Zealand where he managed to make only 91 runs from three matches, and a poor outing in Australia where he averaged a pathetic 6.20 from five innings. Despite his recent poor form, his overall contribution to Indian cricket all these years is of priceless value, and the BCCI appreciates his leadership and experience.

Virat Kohli, however, also had a poor year with respect to his batting. His run-scoring in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia resulted in him crossing the scoreline by a mere 190 runs in 10 matches as a part of India's 1-3 series defeat. Kohli could just manage one hundred during the entire year as he scored 655 international runs from 23 matches and 32 innings. Despite a slight dip in his fitness lately, Kohli's status among the all-time greats of the modern game and his monumental contribution to the success of the team is not under suspicion. The BCCI still rates Kohli very highly for his experience and leadership and keeps him in the A+ contract list.

Shreyas Iyer, who had been omitted from the central contract list earlier for not playing sufficient domestic cricket, will be back in the list with a vengeance. Having been omitted, Iyer made a concerted effort to regain his touch by scoring heavily in domestic competitions. He has been in fine touch in the domestic circuit, especially in the Ranji Trophy, where he scored 480 runs out of a span of five matches, with an average of a whopping 68.57. In Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he scored 345 runs in nine matches and was the fourth-highest scorer in the tournament. His outstanding performance in Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he scored 325 runs in a series of five games, also made him a strong part of India's leading performers. Shreyas was also a key performer for India in their win at the Champions Trophy, and he remained the highest run-scorer in the tournament with 243 runs in five matches. His return to the central contract list is a well-deserved recognition of his hard work and consistent performance at the domestic level.

The BCCI’s decision to retain Virat and Rohit on the A+ contract list, despite their retirement from T20Is, highlights their continued importance to the Indian team. The central contracts are a recognition of a player's multi-faceted contribution to Indian cricket, and both players have given leadership, talent, and consistency over several years. Although their present form has been as brilliant as in their early years might not be true, their experience and capacity to motivate and guide young players cannot be replaced.

For Shreyas Iyer, his return to the contract list is a testament to the fact that domestic performances still matter. His hard work and impressive stats in domestic cricket competitions have earned him a place among the top players in India. The BCCI’s recognition of his achievements will only motivate him to continue his excellent form and further contribute to the Indian team in the future.

Finally, the step taken by BCCI to upgrade the central contracts of these players is proof of their persistent worth to Indian cricket. The comeback of Shreyas Iyer to the team indicates how performances on the domestic front can serve as a stepping stone to bring back the players in the main team. With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma still the backbone of Indian cricket, Indian cricket will sparkle in the years ahead with these superstars putting their strength into the game.