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Rohit Sharma hits the gym to train with Abhishek Nayar amid reports of ODI retirement
Former India Test and T20I captain Rohit Sharma is not letting retirement rumours slow him down. Even though there are reports that the Indian skipper could soon be forced to call time on his ODI career, Rohit has made it clear he wants to keep playing until the 2027 Cricket World Cup.
After stepping away from Tests and T20Is in the past 12 months, the 38-year-old is now fully focused on staying fit for the 50-over format. Some reports emerged suggesting that the BCCI might ask both Rohit and Virat Kohli to retire from ODIs in the upcoming series against Australia because they want to give more chances to young players.
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Rohit Sharma trains with former India coach
However, it appears that these reports are not impacting Rohit he has teamed up with his old Mumbai teammate Abhishek Nayar for a fresh fitness regime. Rohit has always spoken highly of Nayar's training methods and has also worked with him in the past. Nayar was also India's assistant coach before being sacked by the BCCI.
Since the end of IPL 2025 in June, Rohit has enjoyed some time off with his family. He was recently seen watching India's fifth Test against England at The Oval.
If Rohit is selected for the upcoming ODIs, which is very likely since he is still the captain, he will need to keep himself in top physical shape. Playing 50-over cricket demands good stamina. The selectors will expect him to be match-ready, both mentally and physically.
However, without regular cricket in his schedule right now, it can be challenging for Rohit to maintain the same level of fitness that comes easily during a busy season. Training in the nets is one thing, but the intensity of actual matches is hard to replicate.
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