Mumbai, October 8, 2025 – In a move that underscores his unwavering dedication to the sport, veteran cricketer Rohit Sharma orchestrated a rigorous three-hour net session in preparation for the upcoming Australia tour, seemingly brushing aside the ongoing chatter surrounding his recent removal as India's ODI captain. This intense training took place mere hours before he was honored at the CEAT Cricket Rating (CCR) Awards in Mumbai on Tuesday.
Sharma's commitment comes at a time when his position in the ODI squad is under intense scrutiny. After leading India to consecutive ICC titles, including the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy, the BCCI's decision to appoint Shubman Gill as the new ODI captain has raised eyebrows. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar cited the need for long-term planning towards the 2027 World Cup and the desire to avoid multiple captains across formats as the reasons behind the change.
Despite the setback, the 38-year-old Sharma appears determined to prove his critics wrong. According to a report in RevSportz, Sharma's private training session took place at the Reliance Corporate Park in Ghansoli, Navi Mumbai, from mid-morning to early afternoon. He arranged for eight to ten net bowlers from various Mumbai clubs to challenge him. Mumbai Indians physio Amit Dube was present to monitor the session.
Earlier, while the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian team was engaged in the Asia Cup, Sharma spent nearly a week at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. During this time, he focused on facing tall, fast bowlers and throwdown specialists, specifically requesting bowlers who could replicate the challenges he expects to face in Australia. He also incorporated light-weight training in the gym.
At the CEAT Cricket Rating Awards, Sharma received a special memento for his leadership in the Champions Trophy victory. The event marked his first public appearance since relinquishing the ODI captaincy. He acknowledged the challenge that the Australian tour presents, stating, "I love playing against them. I love going to Australia. It's a very challenging country to play cricket... Having been there now several times, I do understand what to expect. Hopefully, we can go there and do what the Indian team is supposed to do and get the result in our favor".
Sharma's dedication to maintaining peak fitness was also evident, with many noting his leaner and more determined appearance. Despite the pressures and speculation surrounding his future, Sharma remains focused on contributing to the team's success.
The ODI series against Australia, commencing on October 19, will be a crucial test for Sharma. Selected in the squad alongside Virat Kohli, this series marks their return to international cricket since the Champions Trophy win in March. While Sharma has a good ODI record in Australia, with 1,328 runs in 30 matches, this tour carries extra weight due to the recent captaincy change and questions about his long-term prospects.
The 27th edition of the CEAT Cricket Rating Awards also recognized other notable performances. Brian Lara and B.S. Chandrasekhar received Lifetime Achievement Awards, while Joe Root was named International Cricketer of the Year. Sanju Samson was crowned T20I Batter of the Year, and Varun Chakravarthy was named T20I Bowler of the Year. Shreyas Iyer received the CEAT JioStar Award, and Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma were recognized as the Women's Batter and Bowler of the Year, respectively.
