KL Rahul's resurgence in Indian cricket was not a fluke. It was the result of careful planning, honest introspection, and the guidance of a coach and captain who knew exactly what needed to change.
Abhishek Nayar, the former India assistant coach who got sacked after the team’s poor performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, opened up about the behind-the-scenes work that went into reviving Rahul's game in an interview with ESPNcricinfo. He revealed that it all started with a conversation with Rohit Sharma, who believed Rahul had a big role to play in India’s future across formats, from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to the 2025 Champions Trophy.
The results of that mentorship are now out in the open. He was one of India’s top batters in the Champions Trophy 2025. He recently scored a century at Headingley in the Test match versus England. His ability to bat at different positions and adapt to different match situations has made him one of the most valuable players in the set-up now.
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KL Rahul's Turnaround: The Role of Abhishek Nayar and Rohit Sharma in Reviving a Stalled Career
Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Nayar revealed how Rohit Sharma's belief in KL Rahul's potential became the starting point of their working relationship.
"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 said as quoted to ESPNcricinfo.
The lead-up to the Australia tour became a make-or-break moment for Rahul. Nayar was candid about how important that phase was, stating:
"I think that was sort of the inception [of our relationship. Australia was going to be critical for him because it was almost like what if you didn’t get runs there, then where is his career going? Because he was out of the T20 [squad]. Then this could also very well have been his last series."
Nayar approached the challenge head-on, asking Rahul what direction he wanted to take in those few critical weeks before the series. He recalled:
"I told him, ’listen, we’ve got 15 days to prepare before we go to Australia, and take those ten days there, we have got almost month to prepare - what do you want to do? How do you want to approach this? What is your mindset?'"
That led to lengthy discussions, a difference of opinions, and eventually, a meeting point where Rahul agreed to trust Nayar’s methods.
"He spoke about what he’s been doing and what worked for him in the past. And then I had a certain thought process, which was very different from his. Over hours and hours of conversation and trying to make him understand where I came from, eventually I got him to a place where he sort of trusted me to do certain things with him in regards to how he practises, in regards to trusting certain changes in his tactics, in regards to his stance, where he stands in the crease, what guard he takes," Nayar shared.
But as with all turnarounds, there was an element of timing and fortune involved. Rohit missed the first Test of the Australia series due to personal reasons. Rahul opened and scored 77 runs in the first innings of the match.
"A coach has to be lucky. 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."
For Nayar, the roadmap was always about focusing on skills first and then letting that technical clarity support the mental game.
"All I can tell you is, the way I've always tried to handle things is to first try and address the skill, and then use skill as a medium to address the mind. That's as much as I can tell you in terms of details. It's about using practice to give his mind reassurance with the plan that we have, and what he needs to do to execute it. And then adding a lot of tactical nuances to that so that it gives him a slight edge when he's batting. So his focus is totally on following and executing those tactical adjustments and nuances rather than focusing on the result of it," Nayar stated.
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KL Rahul’s Real Test Begins Now
The hundred at Headingley was a sigh of relief, both for Rahul and those who backed him. But now comes the harder part. Carrying this form forward, especially with India trailing 0-1 in the series against England, will be crucial. Rahul has been here before, in form one season, under pressure the next. The key this time is to not let that cycle repeat.
There’s no doubting the quality. What remains to be seen is how long he can keep it going. Rahul will know that a good knock here and there won’t be enough anymore.
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