BCCI scrambles to ‘compensate’ Jasprit Bumrah after INR 2 crore pay gap sparks contract rethink

By Admin

18 Mar, 2026

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly reassessing its player contract structure after a significant ₹2 crore pay gap emerged for Jasprit Bumrah. The development has sparked internal discussions about fairness, performance-based rewards, and the future of player retainership in Indian cricket.

Why the Pay Gap Happened

The issue stems from the BCCI’s decision to scrap the prestigious A+ category from its annual player contracts. Traditionally, this top bracket was reserved for cricketers who consistently performed across all three formats Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.

Under the earlier system:

• A+ Grade: ₹7 crore
  
  

• Grade A: ₹5 crore
  
  

• Grade B: ₹3 crore
  
  

• Grade C: ₹1 crore
  
  

With the removal of A+, Bumrah who had been a mainstay in the top tier since the 2018–19 season has now been shifted to Grade A, effectively reducing his earnings by ₹2 crore.

The Structural Shift Behind the Decision

The BCCI’s move to eliminate the A+ category was largely influenced by a changing team composition. Following the T20I retirements of senior players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah emerged as the only active all-format regular.

This created a structural imbalance maintaining a separate top tier for just one player became difficult to justify within the existing framework. As a result, the board opted to remove the category entirely.

BCCI’s Response: A Possible Compensation Plan

According to reports, the BCCI is now actively exploring ways to compensate Bumrah and potentially others affected by the reshuffle.

A source indicated that:

It would be unfair to reduce Bumrah’s fees from ₹7 crore to ₹5 crore, given his consistent performances and importance to the team.

This has led to discussions around:

• Revising the valuation of existing contract grades
  
  

• Introducing performance-based incentives
  
  

• Ensuring fair compensation for multi-format players
  
  

Importantly, the updated contract values have not yet been officially disclosed, and even players remain unaware of the final structure.

Other Players Affected by the Reshuffle

Bumrah isn’t the only cricketer impacted by the changes. Several prominent names have seen shifts in their contract categories:

• Axar Patel   placed in Grade B, despite strong performances in white-ball formats
  
  

• KL Rahul
  
  

• Hardik Pandya
  
  

• Rishabh Pant
  
  

• Mohammed Siraj
  
  

These players, all regulars in at least two formats, are also grouped in lower brackets than expected raising concerns about pay parity and recognition.

What This Means for Indian Cricket

This situation could become a turning point in how the BCCI evaluates and rewards its players. With modern cricket increasingly demanding specialization across formats, a rigid contract structure may no longer be effective.

The expected contract rethink could:

• Set new benchmarks for performance-based pay
  
  

• Redefine how multi-format and specialist players are valued
  
  

• Ensure top performers like Bumrah are adequately rewarded
  
  

Final Thoughts

The BCCI’s attempt to address Jasprit Bumrah’s pay gap highlights a broader issue within cricket’s evolving ecosystem how to fairly compensate players in an era where format specialization is becoming the norm.

As the board works toward a revised contract model, its decisions could shape the future of player remuneration in Indian cricket, ensuring that consistency, impact, and versatility are rewarded appropriately.