Picture Credit : BCCI
There is a lot of buzz regarding the gentlemen’s game in India at the moment. The WPL just got over and the T20 World Cup is already up and running while the IPL is scheduled to begin next month. Amidst all the chaos, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced its annual player contract for the senior men and women’s team.
Under the new scheme, A+ grade has been abolished and now the players will be divided into just three grade groups namely Grade A, B, and C. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have dropped to Grade B particularly because of their non-involvement in tests and T20Is. Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja and Shubman Gill are the only three players to feature in Grade A. Let us now take a look at the top five big players who have been dropped from the central contract for 2026.
1. Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan has been officially dropped from the BCCI’s central contract for 2026 despite being a regular for India in white ball cricket. Ishan’s exclusion from the contract comes in as a huge shock and disappointment given what he brings to the table for India. His explosive and fearless style of play could be the point of difference for India at the T20 World Cup and the decision to leave him out does not make a lot of sense.
2. Mohammed Shami
Mohammed Shami also finds himself out of the central contract. Shami’s exclusion was not unexpected because of his limited participation and injury woes over the last few years. Shami who was on BCCI’s Grade A contract until last season has been one of the most prolific bowlers for India over the last decade. He hasn’t turned up for India since the 2025 Champions Trophy and therefore he has been dropped.
3. Rajat Patidar
RCB’s IPL winning captain Rajat Patidar is among the top names who have lost the central contract. He was on a Grade C contract last season, but because of his limited and unconvincing international performances, Patidar has been shown the exit door. Patidar has failed to score even 100 runs in tests and ODIs combined and therefore his exclusion from the contract is a no brainer.
4. Sarfaraz Khan
Sarfaraz Khan has also been left out of the 2026 BCCI central contract. He was on a Grade C contract, but because he couldn’t come up big in the international opportunities that were presented to him, Sarfaraz was left out. However, it's not justified given the kind of performances he has given in the domestic setup.
5. Mukesh Kumar
The final name is Mukesh Kumar. The right-arm medium fast bowler has been left out because new pacers like Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh have been preferred over him. He was also on a Grade C contract last season just like many others on this list. Mukesh is a powerhouse when it comes to domestic experience, but his international performances haven’t been convincing for the selectors.
