England Must Change Plans As Rohit Sharma Returns To India’s ODI Setup, Says Nayar

Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar believes England may need to rethink their bowling strategy ahead of the upcoming three-match ODI series after Rohit Sharma’s return to the Indian team. Nayar said the experienced opener’s ability to dominate short-pitched deliveries and perform against quality pace attacks could make a significant difference to India’s batting strength. India are set to bring back several senior players for the ODI series following the conclusion of the T20I leg of the tour. The return of Rohit Sharma is expected to add experience and stability to the top order, especially after Indian batters faced challenges against England’s short-ball tactics during the shorter format.

Speaking to JioStar, Nayar highlighted that one of the biggest concerns for India during the T20I series was handling deliveries directed at the body. However, he believes Rohit’s natural ability to attack short-pitched bowling makes him a difficult batter to contain. “In the T20 series as well, one of the biggest challenges for the Indian batters was the short ball. Rohit Sharma is someone who actually feeds off it and scores heavily against short-pitched bowling,” Nayar said. Rohit has built a reputation throughout his career as one of the strongest players against fast bowling.

His ability to play the pull shot, control the bounce and take on aggressive bowling attacks has been one of the key reasons behind his success across formats. Nayar pointed out that success in overseas conditions, particularly in SENA countries — South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia — often depends on a batter’s ability to handle pace and bounce. He believes India will benefit greatly from having both Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill at the top of the order. “When you do well in SENA countries and overseas, it's partly because you can handle pace well and score runs against the short ball, and that's exactly what India will get from both Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma,” Nayar added. Rohit’s return comes at an important stage for India as the team looks to strengthen its ODI setup.

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The right-handed batter brings years of experience in high-pressure matches and has played several match-winning innings against some of the world’s best bowling attacks. Apart from his batting ability, Rohit’s leadership experience is also expected to be valuable for India. Having captained the team in major tournaments, including the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup and T20 World Cup campaigns, he provides tactical awareness and composure in crucial moments. For England, Rohit’s presence could require adjustments to their bowling plans. The short-ball strategy that troubled some Indian batters during the T20I series may not produce the same results against a player who has consistently punished such deliveries throughout his career.

England’s fast bowlers will need to find alternative ways to challenge Rohit, including maintaining disciplined lines, creating pressure through field placements and avoiding deliveries in his scoring areas. The ODI series is expected to provide another test of both teams’ preparations and adaptability. While England will aim to build on their strengths and exploit any weaknesses in the Indian lineup, India will look towards the experience of Rohit Sharma and the consistency of Shubman Gill to provide a strong foundation at the top. With the return of senior players, India’s batting unit appears better equipped to handle England’s pace attack. According to Nayar, Rohit’s proven ability against short-pitched bowling could be the factor that forces England to change their approach and develop a new strategy for the ODI contest.

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