(BCCI Credit)
Abhishek Nayar, the former Indian all-rounder and current assistant coach of Kolkata Knight Riders, played a pivotal role in guiding the team to victory in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Beyond his contributions to KKR, Nayar has been instrumental in shaping the careers of numerous Indian cricket stars.
Nayar modestly acknowledges that his coaching journey spans over a decade, during which he has mentored a plethora of players. However, it all began with none other than the current captain of the Indian cricket team, Rohit Sharma.
In a conversation with Ranveer Allahbadia on the TRS Podcast, Nayar reminisced about a challenging phase in Rohit’s career when he faced criticism from both fans and media regarding his fitness. The turning point for Rohit came with his exclusion from the 2011 World Cup squad, igniting a fierce determination within him to strive for excellence and reclaim his position among the country’s best players.
“Back in 2011 when he wasn’t selected for the ODI World Cup, I kept on telling him to work hard because he had put on a little weight. There was a series against West Indies before the World Cup and one of the new channels flashed his photo, with Yuvi Paa [Yuvraj Singh]. His belly was encircled with arrows pointing at it repeatedly,” Nayar said.
“That was the moment I could never forget. We saw that on TV and he told me, ‘Let’s work on this.’ A few days later, the World Cup squad was out and he wasn’t there. After that he changed his approach, he changed the way to go about his career… and that’s where he became the ‘Hitman’,” he added.
According to Nayar, Rohit experienced disappointment but remained resolute in his determination to rebound and showcase his true talent.
“There were a lot of things told about Rohit. ‘Two-minute Maggi man’ and whatnot,” Mayar told further.
“That was the point he really thought to change himself. I still remember, he said, ‘Nayari, tu jo bolega main karunga but jab main IPL mein jaaunga to season ke baad log bolein ki ye wo Rohit Sharma nah hai (I’ll do whatever you’ll say. But after the upcoming IPL, people should say this isn’t the same Rohit we saw earlier).
“He had a four-pack [abs]. In a month and a half, he lost around 6-8 kilos. In the next 5-6 years, people kept saying that he is hard work was unmatchable. He was passionate and wanted to prove himself,” he added.
