Keeping the Kings of Cricket in the Game: Continued Grade A+ Contracts for Kohli and Rohit by BCCI
BCCI affirms elite-level remuneration for Kohli and Rohit, regardless of their withdrawals from Test and T20I formats.
It's still game on for Indian cricket titans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) maintains their lofty Grade A+ contracts, despite their recent retirements from T20 Internationals (T20Is) and Test cricket.
Breaking the News
News of the BCCI’s decision came sweeping in from esteemed cricket contributor Devajit Saikia, who shared the board's stand on the contracts of these veteran powerhouses. Earlier in the year, as the BCCI unveiled its annual player retainership for the 2024-25 season, Kohli and Rohit were already placed in the highest Grade A+ bracket alongside another fast bowling maestro, Jasprit Bumrah, and all-rounding mastermind, Ravindra Jadeja.
Saikia shed light on the situation, affirming to ANI that "Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s grade A+ contract will continue despite their retirement from the T20Is and Tests." He further explained that both icons are still an integral part of the Indian cricket team and would consequently continue to enjoy the benefits of the Grade A+ category, including facilities and support essential for their thriving ODI gameplay.
Batting Legends Brightening the Shores of Twilight
Mere numbers can't encapsulate Kohli's formidable 14-year Test career, spanning 123 matches with 9,230 runs, an average of 46.85, and 46 half-centuries to go with his 30 centuries and an impressive highest score of 254*. Kohli finds himself in fourth place among India's highest run-scorers in Tests, mere steps behind legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar.
Similarly, Rohit's retirement announcement from Test cricket comes after an 11-year odyssey encompassing 67 Test matches, during which he amassed 4,301 runs, an average of 40.57, and a career-best score of 212 against South Africa in 2019, all while compiling 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries. With these impressive stats, Rohit bows out of Test matches as the 16th-highest run-getter for India in the format.
Time's Ebb and Test Retirement
While their T20I careers have come to an end, both Kohli and Rohit remained committed to the one-day game before making their retirements official. Kohli holds the record for the most runs in the T20 World Cup, with 1,292 runs across 35 matches, while maintaining an average of 58.72. In his overall T20I career, Kohli recorded 4,188 runs in 125 matches, assuming the second-highest position in the T20I run-scorers list. Rohit, on the other hand, has dominated the T20I format with a staggering 4,231 runs in 151 matches.
Ongoing Impact: ODIs and Beyond
The BCCI's decision to retain both Kohli and Rohit in the Grade A+ category highlights their enduring importance to the Indian cricket setup, particularly in the One-Day Internationals (ODIs), where they remain formidable players. Their continued presence in the highest grade acknowledges their indispensable value to the team, ensuring that they receive unparalleled support and resources for their continued success in the ODI format.
- The decision by the BCCI to maintain the Grade A+ contracts for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma could potentially open new avenues for investments in the cricket space, as DeFi platforms may consider offering unique financial products for avid sports fans on platforms like decentralized exchanges (DEXs), allowing them to invest in the performance of these high-profile players.
- From a broader perspective, the ongoing support from the BCCI for these sports legends, coupled with their exceptional performance statistics in ODI cricket, highlights a growing intersection between finance and sports, particularly as traditional sports finance and DeFi finance continue to converge in the digital age, offering exciting opportunities for synergy and growth.
