Rohit Sharma has left fans bedazzled with his new lean and stylish look after his appearance at the CEAT Cricket Rating Awards in Mumbai on Tuesday, October 7. The 38-year-old ex-India captain looked dashing in a maroon blazer as he participated in the star-studded event, which was attended by cricketing greats such as Sunil Gavaskar, Brian Lara, Kane Williamson, Temba Bavuma, and Varun Chakravarthy.

Rohit, who has just been selected in the 15-member contingent that will represent India in the upcoming ODI series against Australia, has been working to be in top physical fitness for his return to international cricket. Though he will not be captain anymore, replaced by Shubman Gill, who will lead the ODI crew with Shreyas Iyer as vice-captain, Rohit will still play an important role in India’s batting line-up. Fans were left entranced by his new look, quickly comparing new photos with earlier photos of Rohit and heralding his renewed commitment.

As Rohit’s close friend and former Indian team’s assistant coach Abhishek Nayar revealed, Rohit has lost around 10 kilograms lifting weights and following a training regime in Mumbai. Reportedly, both friends spent weeks together in Mumbai perfecting his strength and fitness for his return. He was joined to the event by his wife, Ritika Sajdeh, and Rohit looked comfortable and merry, as he even laughed out loud during a speech.

A section of fans hailed Rohit’s renewed motivation, suggesting he is determined to continue playing until the 2027 ODI World Cup. India’s chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar, admitted that removing Rohit from the ODI captaincy was a “tough” call but emphasized that senior players must continue to perform consistently to retain their spots.

Speaking at the CEAT Awards, Rohit addressed the upcoming Australia tour for the first time since his captaincy snub. Expressing his enthusiasm, he said, “I love playing against Australia, love going there. People in Australia love cricket a lot.”

This October-November, India will face Australia, playing three ODIs and five T20s. This series will also signal the long-awaited return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to the international cricket spotlight, representing their first game of international cricket since IPL 2025. Fans will keep a keen eye on how the pair plays following their layoff.