Abhishek Nayar has shed light on how Rohit Sharma played a pivotal role in reviving KL Rahul’s career by encouraging a more assertive approach to his batting.
Nayar shared that Rohit, during a conversation with him, had expressed a deep belief in Rahul’s potential and emphasized the importance of bringing out the best in the stylish right-hander ahead of key assignments in the 2023-25 cycle.
“When I first picked up that role, I remember I had a conversation with Rohit, and he said that one of the things he was really keen on me doing was working with KL and bringing out a more aggressive outlook to how KL played the game, and bringing the best out of him because he believed strongly that KL would play a major role in the Champions Trophy, World Cup and everything going forward including the BGT [Border-Gavaskar Trophy] and the Tests in England,” Nayar told ESPNcricinfo.
Nayar had joined the Indian coaching setup as assistant coach under Gautam Gambhir in July 2024 after working with Kolkata Knight Riders. While Gambhir’s stint led to some white-ball success, the BCCI parted ways with Nayar following India’s 3-1 defeat to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Though many players continued to struggle with similar technical flaws, Rahul stood out with a renewed sense of rhythm and clarity in his game.
The shift, according to Nayar, was the result of a focused plan that he and Rahul developed ahead of the Australia tour. He explained that their work began with numerous discussions to earn Rahul’s trust before implementing both technical tweaks and mental recalibrations.
“A coach has to be lucky,” Nayar remarked. “How lucky that in his first game in Australia he got runs in the second innings and in the first also he got a start. That gave him a bit of believability. There are times when the glue just sticks. That was the moment the glue stuck. He really enjoyed that knock. He told me, listen, I feel like I am just watching and playing. It’s music to me now, playing the sport.”
Rahul opened in the absence of Rohit Sharma in the first Test at Perth and made impactful contributions – 26 in the first innings and a fluent 77 in the second – helping India clinch the match. Though he didn’t reach three figures on the tour, those knocks played a major role in reaffirming his value to the Indian team.
Later, his form carried into the England series, where he scored 42 and followed it up with a fine 137 at Headingley, although India ended up on the losing side.
Nayar also touched on the internal and external pressures that once held Rahul back. “There is outside noise, there are expectations that one has from oneself, expectations that somehow over the years people and yourself, you infuse into your mind,” Nayar explained.
“So you start thinking this is what you need to do, and this is what you need to achieve, and people keep talking about your potential and your talent, and you keep adding more pressure saying that because everyone thinks I’m talented and because I have the potential, I need to live up to it, and those expectations sometimes weigh on your shoulders, and those expectations sometimes really pull you down in a lot of ways and don’t let you be you. That was something that I think was one of those things that was holding him back.”
Despite not registering a century during the Australian tour, Rahul’s consistency and control at the crease pointed to a clear transformation. Reflecting on one light-hearted exchange, Nayar recalled, “I remember we met someone, and he jokingly said, coach, you need to teach me how to score hundreds. And we were laughing in banter. I was like, dude, sometimes hundreds are just luck.”
Rahul’s resurgence may not have been about milestones, but it certainly marked a turning point in his journey – one driven by belief, adjustment, and the push from a captain who never lost faith.