Indian cricket is stepping into a moment of transition and the mood ahead of the BCCI’s upcoming Annual General Meeting reflects exactly that. As the game moves forward and roles shift, the board is preparing to reassess how its biggest names and the people who support the sport behind the scenes are compensated.
At the heart of the discussion are senior Indian cricketers – Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. For years, both have been fixtures in the A+ contract category, a bracket reserved for players who feature across formats. But with both of them stepping away from Test and T20I cricket and now appearing only in ODIs, their contracts are likely to be revised. This doesn’t take away from their stature or legacy, rather, it signals a natural evolution in their careers. A move from A+ to the A category would reduce their annual retainer from ₹7 crore to ₹5 crore, still significant but a reflection of their current on-field roles.
Ravindra Jadeja, despite retiring from T20Is, may continue in the A+ group because he remains central to India’s Test plans. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill, now leading in both Tests and ODIs, is being considered for the top bracket, along with Jasprit Bumrah. The shift highlights how leadership and workload across formats increasingly shape contract decisions.
The AGM, to be held virtually on December 22, will also address important matters beyond player contracts. Payment structures for umpires and match referees are up for revision, acknowledging the crucial part they play in the sport. Updates on the board’s digital platforms are expected too, as cricket continues expanding its presence online.
This will be the first AGM since the BCCI’s administrative reshuffle, with Mithun Manhas as president, Raghuram Bhatt as treasurer and new secretarial appointments bringing fresh faces into key roles.
As Indian cricket grows and adapts, this meeting marks a step toward aligning the board’s structure with the game’s changing realities.
