Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to stay in BCCI’s Grade A contract list despite retirements

BCCI confirms continued support for Indian cricket icons after their exit from two formats

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma may have stepped away from Test and T20I cricket, but both will continue to feature in the BCCI’s Grade A central contracts for the 2024–25 season. The confirmation came from BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, who said both players remain a key part of the national team setup and will retain all privileges that come with the Grade A status.

Kohli and Rohit were already named in the Grade A category last month alongside Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja—before they made their retirement announcements. Rohit Sharma was the first to bid farewell to both T20Is and Tests, stepping away just before the start of the new World Test Championship cycle.

Also read: New Zealand Cricketers Depart India as IPL 2025 Suspended Due to Escalating Border Issues

He ended his Test career with 4,301 runs in 67 matches at an average of 40.57, including 12 centuries and a highest score of 212. In T20Is, Rohit played 151 matches, scoring 4,231 runs at a strike rate of over 140. He holds the record for the most T20I centuries (five) and ends his career as the format’s leading run-scorer.

Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Tests shortly after Rohit Sharma announced his decision to retire. It brought down the curtain on a 14-year red-ball career that saw him play 123 Tests and score 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85. He finishes as India’s fourth-highest run-getter in the format, with 30 centuries and a highest of 254*.

Kohli had earlier confirmed his T20I retirement at the conclusion of the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, where he was India’s highest run-scorer. In 125 T20Is, he scored 4,188 runs at an average of 48.69, with one century and 38 half-centuries. He also holds the record for most runs in T20 World Cup history.

While they’ve closed the chapter on two formats, both players are still expected to play a role in ODIs and continue to be influential senior figures in Indian cricket. The BCCI’s move to retain them in Grade A reflects their continued importance — not just for what they’ve done, but for what they still bring to the team.