Rajasthan Royals, a franchise owned by Royals Sports Group, has officially appointed former India opener Vikram Rathour as the team’s Batting Coach. Rathour’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the Royals as the franchise recently welcomed back Rahul Dravid as Head Coach. The two cricket veterans will rekindle their successful partnership, which previously saw them guide the Indian national team to the top of international rankings across all three formats and culminated in India’s victory at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
Rathour, who has had an illustrious career both as a player and coach, represented India in six Tests and seven ODIs. Following his playing days, he transitioned into coaching, earning a strong reputation for his technical insight and ability to nurture young talent. Rathour served as India’s Batting Coach from 2019 to 2023, playing a key role in the development of top Indian batters such as Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, and KL Rahul. His tenure is widely recognized for improving India’s batting depth and preparing a new generation of cricketers to perform under pressure.
Before joining the Indian national team as Batting Coach, Rathour also had stints as a national selector and coached domestic teams like Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. His vast experience across different levels of cricket makes him a valuable addition to the Royals’ coaching setup.
Rahul Dravid Welcomes Rathour’s Return
Rajasthan Royals’ Head Coach, Rahul Dravid, expressed his enthusiasm about working with Rathour once again. He said, “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 strengthen our squad and build a world-class team here at Rajasthan Royals.”
Vikram Rathour on His Exciting New Role
Rathour, thrilled to join the Rajasthan Royals, shared his excitement: “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.”
As Rathour steps into his new role, Rajasthan Royals look poised to further their legacy in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and continue their focus on player development, both domestically and internationally.
About Rajasthan Royals: Rajasthan Royals were the champions of the inaugural IPL season in 2008. The franchise underwent a major shareholding restructure in 2021, with Emerging Media taking majority ownership, supported by new co-investor RedBird Capital Partners. Known for their commitment to building young talent, the Royals are one of the ten teams competing in the IPL.
For more information, visit: www.rajasthanroyals.com