Rajasthan Royals have strengthened their coaching staff by bringing in Vikram Rathour as the team’s new batting coach. This appointment follows the high-profile recruitment of Rahul Dravid as the head coach, a significant move after Dravid’s successful stint with the India men’s team, which culminated in winning the T20 World Cup. Rathour, who worked alongside Dravid as India's batting coach, will now join forces again as they look to shape Rajasthan Royals' future in upcoming seasons.
Although Rathour's international playing career was brief, his role in India's recent achievements, particularly in grooming the next generation of batters, has been highly impactful. Dravid expressed his delight at Rathour’s arrival, stating that their past successes with India could serve as a blueprint for success with Rajasthan Royals.
Dravid shared, "Having worked with Vikram for years, I know his technical knowledge, calmness, and understanding of Indian conditions make him the perfect fit for the Royals. Together, we have achieved great things with India, and I'm excited to reunite with him. His expertise in nurturing young talent will be crucial as we work toward building a world-class team at Rajasthan Royals."
The goals of the Dravid-Rathour partnership at RR echo their challenges from the India setup. India hadn't won a T20 World Cup since 2007 and had faced an ICC Trophy drought since 2013 despite several close attempts. Similarly, the Rajasthan Royals haven’t secured an IPL title since their inaugural win in 2008. While the team has struggled to reach those heights again, there has been progress under Sanju Samson’s captaincy, especially in 2022 when they finished as runners-up to Gujarat Titans. Rathour also expressed optimism about his role at RR, hoping to replicate their success from their time with India.
"It's an honour to join the Royals family," said Rathour. "Working alongside Rahul again and with a talented group of young players is incredibly exciting. I look forward to contributing to the team's vision and helping develop top-class cricketers, both for Rajasthan Royals and India, with the ultimate goal of winning championships."