Vikram Rathour joins Rajasthan Royals as batting coach

In a move that solidifies their appointments of the coaching staff, Rajasthan Royals have roped in Vikram Rathour as the team's batting coach. This comes after Rahul Dravid's arrival as the team's head coach - a big ticket move given the legend's coaching stint with the India men's side which eventually ended with T20 World Cup glory. Rathour, who played the role of a batting coach with Dravid in the India setup, will reunite once again as the duo look to shape RR's future in the coming seasons.

While Rathour's career as an international player was short-lived, he performed a pivotal role in India's successes in recent years, notably known for his nurturing of India's next generation of batters. Dravid expressed joy at Rathour's appointment and hoped that they could replicate their success from the India days.

"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," said Dravid. "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."

The Dravid-Rathour find themselves with a goal that isn't too dissimilar from their India days in the coaching setup. Since 2007, India hadn't won a T20 World Cup and had hit an ICC Trophy drought since 2013 despite coming close on multiple occasions. Meanwhile, Royals' only IPL title came in the first season of the IPL, back in 2008. Over the years, the side has underachieved but there has been progress since Sanju Samson took over the captaincy reins. RR came closest to their second title in 2022 when they finished runners-up to eventual winners Gujarat Titans. Rathour echoed Dravid's sentiments about the RR goals and hoped that their new association would be just as fruitful as their previous one.

"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."