Vikram Rathour joins Rajasthan Royals as batting coach

Rajasthan Royals have appointed former India batting coach Vikram Rathour as the team's batting coach. This move came after Rahul Dravid's joining as the team's head coach. However, Rahul Dravid's coaching stint with the India men's team ended with the T20 World Cup 2024 win. Meanwhile, Rathour, who played the role of a batting coach with the legend in the India team, has finished too and he will now reunite once again for the upcoming season as well.

However, Rathour played a key role in India's successes in recent years, and Rahul Dravid expressed joy at his appointment and he also hoped that they could replicate their success from the India days in the RR team as well.

"I'm thrilled to reunite with him" - Rahul Dravid on Vikram Rathour

"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."

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However, both of them find a goal that is too dissimilar from their India days in the coaching setup as well. Since 2007, India failed to win a T20 World Cup and they had an ICC Trophy drought since 2013 despite coming close several times. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals' only IPL title came in the first season of the IPL, way back in 2008. Over the years, they have come close but failed to win but they have evolved since Sanju Samson took over the captaincy reins.

"It's a privilege to be part of the Royals family" - Vikram Rathour

However, they came closest to their second IPL title in 2022 when they finished runners-up to the then-winners Gujarat Titans. Rathour also said Dravid's sentiments about the Rajasthan Royals' goals and hoped that their new association would be helpful like the earlier 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," Vikram Rathour said after his appointment.