Rajasthan Royals announced that former India batting coach Vikram Rathour had been roped in as the new batting coach. His decision to take up the assignment brought him back into the fold of Rahul Dravid’s franchise after this erstwhile India opener and selector had worked together on the national side to help it win the Men’s T20 World Cup in June.

Vikram Rathour: The New Head Coach Of Rajasthan Royals

Vikram Rathour has played for India and, having represented the country in six Tests and seven ODIs, before signing up as a batting coach in 2019-24. He has worked closely with batters like Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and KL Rahul, who gained places in the national squad across formats during his tenure.

“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.

‘We Aim To Further Strengthen Our Squad’: Says Rahul Dravid

“Having worked closely with Vikram for many years, I can confidently say that his technical expertise, calm demeanor, 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 Rahul Dravid, RR’s head coach.

Before securing the batting coach’s role with the Indian team in 2019, Rathour was a national selector for four years. Besides, he has coached Punjab and Himachal Pradesh in domestic cricket, while his IPL tenure remains as that with Punjab Kings.