Rajasthan Royals have appointed Vikram Rathour, the former India batting coach, as their new batting coach. This decision brings Rathour back together with Rahul Dravid, following their successful tenure with the national team that culminated in a Men’s T20 World Cup victory in June.
Rathour expressed his enthusiasm for joining the Royals, stating, “It’s a privilege to be part of the Royals family. Working again with Rahul and a talented group of young cricketers is hugely exciting. I look forward to contributing to the team’s vision and helping develop top-class players for the Royals and for India to achieve championship success.“
A Proven Track Record in Player Development
Rathour’s playing career included six Tests and seven ODIs for India before he took on the role of batting coach from 2019 to 2024. During his time, he played a crucial role in the development of prominent players such as Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and KL Rahul, who made significant impacts in various formats for the national team.
Dravid, the head coach of Rajasthan Royals, praised Rathour’s technical knowledge and ability to nurture talent. “Having worked closely with Vikram for many years, I can confidently say that his expertise and calm demeanor make him an ideal fit for the Royals. We’ve built a strong rapport and guided India to key successes, so I’m thrilled to reunite with him. His talent for developing young players will be invaluable as we aim to strengthen our squad and build a world-class team here at Rajasthan Royals.”
Before becoming the batting coach for the Indian team, Rathour served as a national selector for four years and also coached Punjab and Himachal Pradesh at the domestic level. Additionally, he had a stint with Punjab Kings in the IPL. Most recently, Rathour was part of the support staff for New Zealand during a one-off Test against Afghanistan in Greater Noida, which unfortunately did not proceed due to persistent rain and a wet outfield.
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