Rohit Sharma Resumes Training Ahead of Australia ODIs, Fuels Speculation Over ODI Future

Rohit Sharma is back in the gym, after a brief break from cricket, focusing on fitness as India prepares for their upcoming ODI series against Australia in October.

Rohit, 38, had stunned fans by announcing his retirement from Test cricket midway through the IPL, just ahead of India’s tour of England. The news was soon followed by Virat Kohli also stepping away from the longest format, sparking conversations around a major transition in Indian cricket.

His last outing for India came in the Champions Trophy earlier this year, where he captained the side to a title win against New Zealand in the final. While he hasn’t officially relinquished the ODI captaincy, rumours are swirling that the BCCI is considering handing over the reins to Shubman Gill, who has already been appointed Test skipper.

Adding fuel to speculation, a report in *Dainik Jagran* claimed that both Rohit and Kohli are likely to retire from ODI cricket after the Australia series, scheduled from October 19 to 25. However, Rohit’s return to training suggests he's not done with the format just yet.

He had taken time off with his family in the UK following the IPL and was even seen at The Oval, watching India’s fifth Test against England. But now back in Mumbai, he’s already hitting the gym with Nayar — a sign he’s gearing up for another campaign in blue.

Rohit and Abhishek Nayar share a deep, enduring relationship that goes beyond the cricket field. Nayar has been a trusted confidant and mentor to Rohit since the early years of his career. Their bond became especially significant when Rohit was dropped from India’s 2011 World Cup squad — a moment he has often described as one of the lowest points in his journey. It was Nayar who helped him rebuild, both mentally and physically.

Even today, Rohit continues to rely on Nayar’s guidance. During IPL 2025, after a slow start with the bat, Rohit bounced back strongly and later credited Nayar in an emotional social media post for helping him rediscover his rhythm.

Nayar himself has had a turbulent few months. After being appointed as the assistant coach of the Indian men’s team, he was removed from the role less than a year into the job. He later re-joined the Kolkata Knight Riders camp midway through the IPL 2025 season following his BCCI exit.

More recently, Nayar took over as head coach of UPW (Uttar Pradesh Warriors) in the Indian Women’s Premier League, following the departure of Jon Lewis, who had been with the team for three seasons.

With Rohit back in training and the Australia series on the horizon, all eyes will be on whether the star batter chooses to carry on or bring his illustrious ODI journey to a close. For now, though, he seems far from finished.