Abhishek Nayar, the former assistant coach of the Indian cricket team, has recently revealed the significant role Rohit Sharma played in revitalizing KL Rahul's career, specifically by encouraging a more aggressive batting approach. Nayar, who joined the Indian coaching setup in July 2024 under Gautam Gambhir, highlighted that Sharma emphasized bringing out the best in Rahul, firmly believing in his potential for major tournaments like the Champions Trophy, World Cup, Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and the Tests in England.

Nayar recounted a conversation with Sharma where the latter expressed his keenness to have Nayar work with Rahul to instill a more assertive outlook in his game. Sharma's belief in Rahul's ability to play a crucial role in future tournaments fueled this initiative. Despite a challenging period for the Indian team, including a 3-1 series loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Rahul stood out with a renewed sense of rhythm and clarity in his game.

According to Nayar, this transformation resulted from a focused plan developed collaboratively with Rahul before the Australia tour. Their work commenced with extensive discussions aimed at building trust, followed by implementing technical adjustments and mental recalibrations. Nayar emphasized the importance of earning Rahul's trust before initiating any changes.

Nayar described the pivotal moment when Rahul's aggressive approach began to yield results. In the first game in Australia, Rahul secured runs in both innings, which significantly boosted his confidence. Nayar recalled Rahul saying he felt like he was "just watching and playing" and that playing the sport was "music" to him.

In the first Test against Australia in Perth, Rahul opened in Rohit Sharma's absence and made impactful contributions, scoring 26 in the first innings and a fluent 77 in the second, helping India secure the match. Although he didn't score a century on that tour, those innings played a crucial role in reaffirming his value to the Indian team. His form continued into the England series, where he scored 42 and followed it up with a fine 137 at Headingley.

Nayar's tenure with the Indian team was cut short after the series loss to Australia. However, his work with Rahul left a lasting impact, showcasing the potential of a focused and trusting coach-player relationship. Rahul himself acknowledged Nayar's contribution during the IPL 2025 season, stating that Nayar had spent hours working on his game and helped him enjoy it again.

Rohit Sharma's influence extended beyond just identifying the need for a change in Rahul's approach. He entrusted Nayar with the responsibility of bringing out that change, showcasing his leadership in nurturing talent within the team. This incident also shines light on the significance of a supportive team environment in helping players overcome challenges and rediscover their form.