Former India coach reveals how Rohit Sharma was instrumental in KL Rahul’s resurgence during Champions Trophy 2025

Former India coach Abhishek Nayar revealed how Rohit Sharma was keen on helping KL Rahul find his best with the bat. Nayar, who stepped down as the assistant coach, was asked by Rohit to work with the 33-year-old wicketkeeper and batter. Rahul played a key role with the bat as India won their second ICC title inside nine months under Rohit’s leadership. 

Speaking to ESPN Cricinfo, Nayar said, “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."

KL Rahul began the tour of England well, scoring 40-odd runs in the first innings and this was followed by a century in the second innings. The 33-year-old also played a key role with the bat for India in the Perth Test where he shared a key stand with Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top of the order. Rahul’s form with the bat will be key for India in the second Test that begins on second July in Birmingham. 

Abhishek Nayar praises KL Rahul’s batting

During his chat with ESPN Cricinfo, Nayar said that there were few minor changes, including Rahul’s stance that was worked upon. The changes bore immediate results as the batter began to score runs and also was able to play more freely. Rahul scored an unbeaten 34 off 33 balls in the finals, which included a boundary and six. The veteran batter had also played a key role in the semis win over Australia. 

Nayar went on to say, “Watching the game as part of the support staff, I remember watching him and saying, ‘Damn, this is really working. Because that start was very against his nature. It was not a shot that he would play when batting on three. That's a shot he would play when he was batting 35 or 40. That is a small moment in my head when I said, damn, we are thinking right; he's moving in the right direction." 

“There is no right time to play a shot. There is a shot; you play it. Now the backstory of the shot; no one knows. That only you and I know, so let's not expect others to understand it. No one knows the work you are putting in." The former Indian coach went on to say about KL Rahul’s newfoundtouch with the bat.