With all format players a rarity, A+ grade may go

The shifting sands in the men's playing pool of Indian cricket has sparked an internal debate in the BCCI about whether the A+ category, reserved for allformat players, has become excess to requirements.

- Rasesh Mandani

It is learnt that this is one of the matters that has been on the discussion board with the national selectors, who have now recommended that A+ category be done away with. The issue will be debated in the board's next Apex Council meeting before the fresh national contracts are finalised.

The current wave of transition in Indian cricket has seen selections becoming increasingly format-focussed. Given the amount of cricket that is being played these days, it is the right call too. For instance, India's current T20I side which is set to play the next World Cup is largely made up of specialists suited to the fast-paced format. In ODIs and Tests too, there is now a clean differentiation.

Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah were last named in the A+ category when 2024-25 contracts were awarded. Their period of appraisal was October 2023-September 2024.