Abhishek Nayar Paid The Price For Helping Rohit Sharma

Just after his unbeaten knock in the IPL 2025 clash against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to make a strong comeback in the tournament after a poor run of form, Rohit Sharma used social media to thank the former Indian assistant coach, Abhishek Nayar.

KL Rahul, the wicket-keeper batter for the Delhi Capitals, also shared how Nayar helped him to get motivation and have fun to do well in the white-ball format, after he lost his place in the T20I side before last year’s T20 World Cup.

Rohit Sharma finds new success mantra in Abhishek Nayar

Nayar, until recently the assistant coach of the Blue Brigade, was working quietly behind the scenes with the Indian leader before he made his return to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

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The reports have revealed that both the Mumbai batter and Nayar had been collaborating for a while and extended their partnership into the ongoing edition of the tournament.

Just after the day before his first impactful knock of 26 runs against the Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium on April 17, he worked with the coach, Abhishek Nayar, at the BKC facility of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA).

The Nagpur-born followed up that small aggressive knock with a whirlwind knock of 76 runs at the home ground against Chennai. Most of his slots looked quite relaxed, with the veteran getting back the lost rhythm and timing with the bat.

Roht was off-color at the start of the season with just 56 runs in five innings at an average of 11.20. But he ramped up with two glorious knocks. The reports have revealed that both Sharma and Abhishek Nayar were collaborating since the start of the IPL. Rohit is also planning for the 2027 ODI World Cup and is working on his fitness and batting.

“Big shout out to Abhishek Nayar”- KL Rahul

In the past, many players have praised the veteran for putting motivation into their career during the dark phase of the game. He is widely respected in the national side for his modern coaching, but was blamed for the side’s underwhelming performances in the BGT 2024-25 series, since they appointed Sitanshu Kotak as the batting coach.

With Nayar joining the KKR side, a rival franchise of Mumbai and other franchises, it would be interesting to see if the Abhishek Nayar and Rohit relationship in the batting continues. Both teams are not going to play each other in the season after the first round, and the only expected meeting could be in the knockouts.

Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul have also accepted their benefits with the former Mumbai batter. Rahul keeps working with Nayar wherever he is away from competitive cricket.

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“Big shout out to Abhishek Nayar. I've worked a lot with him ever since he's come into the Indian team. We have spent hours and hours together talking about my white ball game and how I can be better. We've worked hours and hours together in Bombay, and I think somewhere I've found the fun in playing white-ball cricket.” KL Rahul expressed after a match-winning knock for the Delhi Capitals in Vizag.

Abhishek Nayar works with KKR

KKR is struggling in the middle of the IPL 2025 with just three wins in eight fixtures and will now require five wins in the last six group-stage games to confirm their playoff qualification.

Abhishek Nayar’s presence on the side, after missing the first half, could be an inspirational aspect for the Ajinkya Rahane-led side.