Grade A+ Category: Star Indian batsmen Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will remain in the Grade A+ category even after retiring from T20Is and Test matches, as confirmed by Devajit Saikia, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), on Wednesday.

Kohli and Rohit, along with right-arm seamer Jasprit Bumrah and left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, received placements in the Grade A+ category for the BCCI’s annual player retainership for 2024–25, which the board revealed earlier in April. An official from BCCI stated, “Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will retain their Grade A+ contracts despite retiring from T20Is and Tests. They remain part of the Indian cricket team and will continue to receive all Grade A+ benefits.”

England Tour:

India’s ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 campaign begins with a five-match tour of England. Kohli shocked the cricket community by announcing his retirement from the format after a 14-year, 123-match stellar career.

Virat Kohli 36-year-old, played 123 Test matches, amassing 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85. He scored 30 centuries and 31 fifties in 210 innings, with a highest score of 254*. Virat ranks as India’s fourth-highest run scorer in the format, following Rahul Dravid (13,265 runs), Sunil Gavaskar (10,122 runs), and Sachin Tendulkar (15,921 runs).

Rohit Sharma’s Test Retirement:
During the England tour, Rohit announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 7, ending an 11-year career that included 67 Test matches. This announcement marked the start of India’s ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 cycle, which will begin on June 20. Rohit scored 4,301 runs at an average of 40.57, including 12 centuries and 18 fifties. His top score of 212 came during a thrilling home series against South Africa in 2019. In the longest format, he ranks as India’s 16th-highest run scorer. Virat and Rohit retired from the shortest international format in 2024, following the conclusion of the T20 World Cup.

Kohli’s Test Career:

Virat has scored 1,292 runs at an average of 58.72 and a strike rate of 128.81 in 35 T20 World Cup games, including 15 half-centuries. His highest score is 89*. He holds the record for the most runs in the tournament’s history. In 125 Twenty20 International matches, Virat accumulated 4,188 runs at an average of 48.69 and a strike rate of 137.04. He also achieved a top score of 122*, 38 fifties, and a century. He ranks as the all-time second-highest run scorer in the format.

Also Read: Here’s how World Reacted to Virat Kohli Test Retirement

Rohit Sharma’s Test Career:

However, Rohit has scored 4,231 runs at an average of 32.05 and a strike rate of over 140 in 151 T20I games. Throughout his career, he has accumulated five centuries and thirty-two fifties, with his highest score being 121*. Additionally, Rohit leads the format in total runs scored.

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