Vikram Rathour Reunites with Rahul Dravid as Batting Coach in Rajasthan Royals

Former India batting coach Vikram Rathour is set to reunite with Rahul Dravid in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Rajasthan Royals (RR) have roped in Rathour as their new batting coach following a stellar stint with the Indian cricket team.

RR took to social media to announce Rathour’s appointment as a part of their coaching staff.

“Rathour bhi, Royal bhi! T20 World Cup winning coach Vikram Rathour joins our support staff and reunites with Rahul Dravid,” RR’s Instagram post read.

Rathour, who played six Tests and seven ODIs for India, served as Team India’s batting coach from 2019 to 2024.

“It’s a privilege to be part of the Royals family. The opportunity to work again with Rahul, and now with a talented group of young cricketers, is hugely exciting. I look forward to contributing to the team’s vision and working toward our goal of developing top-class players for the Royals and for India which can help in winning championships,” said Rathour in a statement issued by the franchise.

Royals’ newly-appointed head coach Rahul Dravid welcomed Rathour, explaining why the latter is a ‘perfect fit’ for RR in the IPL.

“Having worked closely with Vikram for many years, I can confidently say that his technical expertise, calm demeanour, and deep understanding of Indian conditions make him a perfect fit for the Royals.

“Together, we’ve built a strong rapport, guiding India to key successes, and I’m thrilled to reunite with him. His ability to nurture young talent and elevate players’ potential will be invaluable as we aim to further strengthen our squad and continue building a world-class team here at Rajasthan Royals,” said Dravid.

Before entering the Indian team as their batting coach in 2019, Rathour also served as a national selector for four years. He also coached Punjab and Himachal Pradesh in domestic cricket and worked with Punjab Kings in the IPL too.

Recently, Rathour was a member of the New Zealand support staff for the one-off Test against Afghanistan in Greater Noida, which ended without a single ball being bowled due to persistent rain and wet outfield.

(With Agency Inputs)