Indian cricket stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will continue in the Grade A+ category of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)’s central contracts, despite stepping away from Test and T20I cricket.
The confirmation came from BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, reinforcing the duo’s enduring legacy in Indian cricket.
In April 2024, the BCCI’s annual player retainership list reaffirmed Kohli and Sharma’s elite status alongside Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja, ensuring top-tier financial support.
Kohli bid farewell to Test cricket ahead of India’s five-match England tour, closing a 14-year career with 123 matches, 9,230 runs, and 30 centuries. Rohit Sharma followed suit, announcing his Test retirement on May 7, ending a 67-match career with 4,301 runs and 12 centuries.
Both players had earlier exited from T20I cricket in 2024 following India’s T20 World Cup campaign, with Kohli finishing as the second-highest run-scorer in the format and Sharma leading the list.
Their retention in Grade A+ contracts signals BCCI’s acknowledgement of their contributions and continued influence in Indian cricket, despite their absence from two major formats.
