Abhishek Nayar Credits Rohit Sharma for India’s New Attacking White-Ball Identity

Abhishek Nayar opined that Rohit Sharma’s aggressive batting and fearless leadership have transformed the way India approaches white-ball cricket.

India and South Africa enter the final ODI in Visakhapatnam on December 6 with the series level at 1-1. South Africa won the second match in Raipur by chasing a record 359 after India had taken a 17-run win in Ranchi.

Former coach Abhishek Nayar assessed India’s batting approach and highlighted the impact of senior players. He pointed out Rohit Sharma’s development from a middle-order player to a reliable opener who now drives India’s white-ball with an aggressive method. Nayar said this shift has pushed the team to score faster in difficult conditions.

“Rohit Sharma has transitioned well in ODIs. From starting lower down the order, early on in his career to becoming a secure opener. This is where he truly evolved, changing how India plays white-ball cricket by adopting an aggressive approach focused on hitting sixes rather than just accumulating runs. His leadership by example, playing without worrying about centuries, has raised team standards,” Nayar said on JioStar.

He then explained that Rohit Sharma has avoided stepping out to play big shots in this series due to swing and unpredictable bounce, which have forced him to stay balanced and use controlled footwork. Nayar expects Rohit to return to a more aggressive style in Visakhapatnam, where conditions usually suit stroke play.

“Rohit Sharma hasn’t stepped out to hit big shots mainly due to swinging conditions in this series. When he feels the ball isn’t swinging much, he confidently takes on bowlers. He’s been careful with his footwork because of uncertain pitch bounce. But in familiar Vizag conditions, we’ll likely see his aggressive stepping-out game return,” he added.

Abhishek Nayar Predicts Another Strong Knock from Kohli

The former coach also broke down Virat Kohli’s recent form, noting that Kohli has produced two centuries. Abhishek Nayar highlighted Kohli’s tactical adjustments as another key factor, as the batter has used different guards and varied his movement in the crease to counter multiple lengths.

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“One of the greatest things Virat Kohli has done this series against South Africa is how he hits the ball at the key moments. His greatness is in how straight his bat path comes down to impact the ball. We didn’t see that a lot before. The bat used to open up. But here, every single time you see him hit the ball, his head is right over it. That happens very regularly. He brings the bat down in line with the ball, even when it is angling away. He manages to play it straight all the time. That is his greatness and a main reason he has been so successful,” he said.

“Virat has changed his batting a lot since the Australia tour, mainly in his tactics. If you see his last two ODI innings against South Africa, every single shot comes from a different guard. He’s been on leg stump, on middle stump and on off stump as well. He’s made those changes so he can adapt to every length. He’s used his feet, been deep in the crease, and been outside the crease. His brain has worked like an AI computer, trying to figure everything out. Also, the conditions have helped the style of cricket Virat wants to play,” Abhsihek Nayar concluded.