Will Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma retain Grade A+ central contract even after Test retirement?

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma recently retired from Test cricket. The ace Indian batting duo announced their respective retirements on May 12 and May 7. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had announced Kohli and Rohit's names in the Grade A-plus category as far as the annual retainership list is concerned. This decision by the BCCI was taken in April 2025.

There has been a lot of speculation in relation to whether the pair would retain their Grade A+ status in BCCI's central contracts. Given that the contractual period spans from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025, their top-tier classification holds firm. Historically, players who are regulars in all three formats are the ones who get provided with the luxury of the Grade A+ contract.

Secretary of the BCCI, Devajit Saikia, cleared the air as far as Kohli and Rohit's status is concerned.

“Both players (Virat and Rohit) are playing for India, so why the question of not having them in A+ category? Both will continue in the same grade and will get all the facilities of that grade,” stated Saikia, as quoted by India Today.

As far as the current cycle is concerned, Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah are the two players other than Kohli and Rohit who find their name in the list for Grade A+ contracts. The seasoned duo, now aiming to focus solely on the ODI format, are most likely to be demoted in the next cycle.

It will be intriguing to see how India will fare without Kohli and Rohit on their upcoming tour of England. The five-match series is scheduled to commence on June 20. As of now, Shubman Gill is being seen as the frontrunner for shouldering the responsibility of being India's captain in the longest format of the game. The final call is expected to be taken in the near future.