Former India captain Rohit Sharma, who stepped away from Test cricket and T20 internationals over the past year, is preparing for a return to the game with renewed focus — training under the guidance of his former Mumbai teammate and celebrated coach Abhishek Nayar.
The 38-year-old opener, determined to extend his career in the ODI format until the 2027 World Cup, is working on regaining peak match fitness after taking a break from competitive cricket since the conclusion of IPL 2025 in early June. His upcoming comeback is expected to see him reunite with Virat Kohli in India’s ODI series against Australia in October.
During his time away from the field, Rohit was seen at The Oval, watching the fifth Test between India and England, before returning to Mumbai to start intensive training. The decision to seek Nayar’s mentorship stems from a long-standing professional and personal rapport — the two shared the dressing room during domestic cricket for Mumbai, and Rohit has often spoken highly of Nayar’s analytical approach to improving players’ skills and conditioning.
Nayar is widely respected in Indian cricket circles for his success in shaping the comebacks of high-profile players like Dinesh Karthik and KL Rahul. His coaching career spans key roles in the IPL and the Indian national setup. He previously worked alongside Gautam Gambhir at Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and was part of the Indian team’s support staff before parting ways after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which was also Rohit’s final Test assignment.
For Rohit, this training phase is about more than just technical refinement — it’s a return to disciplined routines, focused preparation, and strength conditioning aimed at sustaining his ODI career for the next two years. Working with Nayar offers him a customised approach tailored to his evolving needs as a veteran player managing workload and fitness.
Meanwhile, Nayar has taken on new coaching assignments, serving as the head coach of UP Warriorz in the Women’s Premier League and preparing for another season with KKR in IPL 2026, despite broader changes in the franchise’s backroom staff. Balancing his multiple roles, he has made time to oversee Rohit’s individual training program, underscoring their strong professional bond.
If all goes to plan, Rohit’s much-anticipated ODI return will mark the beginning of a final, carefully managed phase of his illustrious international career — one aimed squarely at ending his journey on the grand stage of the 2027 World Cup.
Arjun Nimmala (C) with his mother Neeru (L) and his younger brother named Akhil Nimmala (R).Instagram/@arjunnimmala99