Latest news with #Rahul
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First Post
2 hours ago
- Sport
- First Post
Abhishek Nayar reveals how Rohit Sharma helped KL Rahul make a comeback: 'I told him, listen, we've got 15 days'
KL Rahul's recent turnaround in form is linked to the mentorship of Abhishek Nayar, who worked with him on Rohit Sharma's request. Nayar revealed why Rohit approached him to work with Rahul and how he convinced the current India opener to change certain things. read more KL Rahul 's recent turnaround with the bat hasn't gone unnoticed. Rahul himself spoke about it after he scored a brilliant century in the second innings of the first Test match against England at Headingley. He credited former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar for his improvement in form across formats. Abhishek Nayar has now revealed that he worked with KL Rahul after a request from former India captain Rohit Sharma . Nayar said Rohit felt that Rahul had more to offer, especially with his batting mindset. So he reached out to him and asked to help bring out a more aggressive version of Rahul. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Nayar worked with the Indian cricket team for eight months under head coach Gautam Gambhir. However, after India performed poorly in the Test series against New Zealand and Australia, Nayar was released from the team by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). '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 told ESPNcricinfo. Also Read: 'He has been losing and losing': Former India opener warns Gautam Gambhir ahead of 2nd Test Nayar reveals how he convinced Rahul Rahul was under a lot of pressure at the time. He had already been dropped from the T20 side, and his place in the Test team was not confirmed either. Rahul started the BGT 2024-25 with a fine century even though he continued to bat at a low average of 30 after that one knock. However, he finished as one of the leading run scorers for his position at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and helped India win the title after 12 years. He scored the winning runs in the final against New Zealand. '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 added. '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?',' he added. '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 said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'A coach has to be lucky,' Nayar says. '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.' Also Read: Ravi Shastri defends India collecting lion's share of ICC revenue, says BCCI deserves even more: 'It's only fair' However, Rahul is still struggling to shake off the 'inconsistent' tag in Test cricket. Despite his talent and experience, he averages only 34 in red-ball matches, a modest figure for a player of his calibre. Even though he impressed in the first Test against England, all eyes will be on him again in the second match to see if he can carry forward his good form. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
NDTV
2 hours ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Rohit Sharma Entrusted This Man To Bring 'Aggressive Outlook' In KL Rahul
Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar revealed that ODI captain Rohit Sharma wanted him to work with KL Rahul and bring out a more "aggressive" outlook as well as the best out of him. Rahul has flummoxed everyone with his technical prowess and impressive artillery. The most recent reminder that Rahul delivered was in the second innings of the opening Test against England at Headingley. Rahul dazzled on the crease with a composed 137 from 247 deliveries, a knock that was a sight for sore eyes. Nayar, who was named in head coach Gautam Gambhir 's initial regime, reminisced about the time when former Test captain Rohit asked him to work with Rahul, as the 'Hitman' had a strong belief in the 33-year-old's capability to play a significant role in India. "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, who was removed from the position after a BCCI review following the 3-1 series loss in Australia, told ESPNcricinfo. Before the BGT series, India squared off against New Zealand in a three-match Test series on home soil. In the series opener, Rahul got out while tickling the delivery that went towards the leg side. In the second, he got out on a peach of a delivery and then witnessed Rishabh Pant and Sarfaraz Khan boss the Kiwis with their flamboyant approach. Eventually, India collapsed and lost the opening Test. Rahul didn't play in the next two Tests as India fell to a historic 3-0 series whitewash. "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 said. "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?" he continued. "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 added. Nayar didn't give out the secret sauce and the tweaks he made that allowed Rahul to thrive but gave a sneak peek into the approach that he adopted and said, "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 added.
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Rohit Sharma's key role identified in changing KL Rahul's fortunes: 'He was keen on bringing out his aggressive...'
Almost out of the blue, KL Rahul has graduated from being simply a highly-talented role-player in India's teams across formats to one of its senior statesmen, a leader of the batting attack with seniority now attached to his position and his expectations. At 32 years old and with his long-time teammates Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retiring from Test cricket, the versatile and capable Rahul continues to adapt to what his team needs from him most. Rohit Sharma played a key role in developing KL Rahul to continue striving towards greatness as a batter, even at 32 years old.(REUTERS) In 2025, he seems to have flicked a switch: now almost guaranteed to start Test matches as an opener, he began the tour of England with two fine innings, including a stylish century in the second innings in Leeds. In the ODI unit, Rahul was used as India's number six, and showed remarkable temperament and skill as he took to that role like a duck to water in the successful ICC Champions Trophy campaign. All this might not have been possible without the help of his captain Rohit Sharma and India's then-assistant coach Abhishek Nayar during his brief stint with the team. Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Nayar revealed that one of the key duties he was prescribed was to help KL Rahul elevate his game to the consistency and ability that was always there in flashes. Also Read: KL Rahul's commitment to choosing 'country over his child' gets exuberant praise "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,' said Nayar, who served as coach when Gautam Gambhir took over the head coach position but was sacrificed after the BCCI's inquest following a horror spell in Test cricket to start with 6 losses in 8 matches. What did KL Rahul change to reach the best version of himself? It certainly translated for Rahul, who showed off a few switches in technique that became clear in the knockout rounds of the Champions Trophy. Scores of 41* against Australia in the semifinal, followed by a nerve-settling 34* in the final against New Zealand, saw him score positively while remaining in total control — two parts of his game that Rahul has always possessed but previously failed to combine efficiently. More than the scores themselves, the confidence with which Rahul took India home on both occasions spoke to a batter who had entered an excellent mental zone. On what exactly Nayar and Rahul worked on to achieve this, the coach held his cards close to his chest, but provided a fascinating glimpse. '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,' explained the former Mumbai batter. His 'aggressive outlook' also bore results in the IPL, where he shone with his new franchise Delhi Capitals, scoring 539 runs at a strike-rate of 149. After some seasons seeing his strike-rate criticised, the latest version of Rahul showed a willingness to go big from the off, and took away his earlier tendency to fall into a shell.
India Today
6 hours ago
- Sport
- India Today
The KL Rahul comeback: Are India reaping rewards of Rohit Sharma and Abhishek Nayar's work?
India batter KL Rahul has been enjoying some sensational form since the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. A gritty outing in Australia and then two fantastic performances in the Champions Trophy 2025 and Indian Premier League, KL Rahul is enjoying one of the best patches of his the absence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the Test series against England, Rahul has started strongly as well, hitting a century in the second innings of the opening Test match. Former India batting coach Abhishek Nayar has revealed that Rahul's revival of form was one of the main projects he undertook during his tenure with the Indian 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," Abhishek Nayar told ESPNcricinfo in an Rahul's Comeback in 2024 The current KL Rahul is vastly different from the KL Rahul of 2023, who was heavily criticised for his outing in the ODI World Cup 2023 final. In that match, Rahul got stuck between gears and failed under the pressure of the big occasion against Pat Cummins' Australia Rahul was dropped from the T20 World Cup team in 2024 and was also let go by his Indian Premier League franchise, Lucknow Super revealed that drastic changes needed to be made in KL Rahul's technique and mentality, and the duo got to work during India's ill-fated Test series against New Zealand."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. I told him, listen, we've got 15 days to prepare before we go to Australia. And take those 10 days there, we have got almost a month to prepare. What do you want to do? How do you want to approach this? What is your mindset?" Nayar former cricketer revealed that he fixed Rahul's skills first and then got working on the mental side of the game. KL Rahul's improved batting reflected in the Champions Trophy, where the batter finished matches with sixes, something that was not seen in his batting before."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 reported that Abhishek Nayar continues to work with KL Rahul in a personal capacity despite being sacked from the Indian team. Rahul would hope to continue his form and play some impactful innings in England.- EndsTune InMust Watch
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
IND vs ENG: India's young batting core shows signs of stability amid transition
Rishabh Pant of India is congratulated by KL Rahul (Photo by) India's buildup to the Test series in England largely revolved around the void created by the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Over the last week, the rather unproven batting lineup helped ease some concerns. The transition is still at an early stage. Yet, it's inspiring. KL Rahul, the most experienced batter at the age of 33, is ironically but reassuringly still a part of this transition. He has offered stability at the top of the order that has eased the pressure on the middle order in both the innings at Headingly. It's not that the core of the batting was made of spring chickens. Rahul, captain Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant have all been playing together for five years now. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! What was supposed to be a pressure point now seems to have liberated them — carrying the tag of lead batters in the team. Former India selector Devang Gandhi highlighted the clarity in Rahul's batting which was lacking during his 10-year long Test career. Gandhi puts it down to 'coming out of the shadows of big names' in the team. 'What has worked for these players is that they have been given the primary responsibility to carry India's batting forward. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Rishabh has been consistent in Test cricket barring the last tour of Australia. But Rahul and Gill's approach looked so different,' Gandhi told TOI. India's Bowlers Hit Top Gear in Birmingham Nets | Arshdeep, Akash Deep, Kuldeep Prep Hard Gandhi recalled how Rahul could never settle down in the batting lineup during his tenure as a selector. 'If one observes his career closely, he never got a fixed batting number even in Tests. Sometimes he was also used at No. 3 and No. 6. It was a period when the team management wanted to be very flexible with the playing XI. He was batting at No. 6 even before the last Australia tour. Now, it's clear that he will be opening as a lead batter. That is showing in his batting,' Gandhi remarked. In a way, Gill's career could be equated with Rahul's. With his inconsistency as an opener, the previous team management convinced him to bat at No. 3. 'Both Rahul and Gill are assured of their batting numbers. During our days as selectors, Rahul Dravid played Gill in the middle order on 'A' tours, and he played one of his best first-class knocks in the middle order. They probably feel far more secure of their places now. They must be relishing being the leaders in India's batting lineup,' Gandhi said. India Sweat it out at the Nets in Birmingham Ahead of the 2nd Test vs England The regulars in the batting lineup got off to a good start to usher in the new era of Indian Test batting. However, one can't bet on all of them firing together throughout the series. The transition will truly be complete when India finds near-definite options at No. 3 and No. 6. Sai Sudharsan's Test debut and Karun Nair's comeback journey are two fabulous stories. But they need to quickly establish themselves as concrete answers. Gandhi believes there's still room for Shreyas Iyer in the Test middle order. 'It's probably harsh to still label him as someone who struggles against short deliveries. Iyer has proven he has worked on it, and he has been facing international quality bowling round the year besides performing in domestic cricket. At his age, Nair will have less time to prove himself,' he said. Quiz: Who's that IPL player? Where the team management needs to be careful is maintaining this secure environment for its batters. Dealing with Sudharsan will be crucial. 'One must avoid putting Sudharsan through what Rahul went through in his career. He is young. If you have invested in him then stick with him. He should have a definite role and batting number. He looked good in the second innings in Leeds. He also did well on the 'A' tour of Australia last year,' Gandhi said. The average Indian cricket fan felt good when India registered five centuries in the Headingly Test. Well, the foundation has been laid. It's time to build on it. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
