With less than a month remaining for the T20 World Cup 2026, Sri Lanka has strengthened its coaching staff by appointing Vikram Rathour as the team’s batting coach. Former Indian cricketer R. Sridhar has also joined the setup as the fielding coach for the tournament.
Vikram Rathour’s Role
Rathour, who previously served as India’s batting coach for nearly five years, will be with Sri Lanka from 18 January to 10 March 2026, focusing exclusively on preparing the team for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. This will be a short-term engagement, solely covering the World Cup.
Experience and Credentials
The 56-year-old Rathour played 6 Tests and 7 ODIs for India, with a first-class batting average of nearly 50 and 33 centuries. He has also worked alongside cricketing legends like Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid. Currently, he is associated with Rajasthan Royals in the IPL as an assistant coach.
Sri Lanka Cricket stated:
“Sri Lanka Cricket is pleased to announce the appointment of former Indian batting coach Vikram Rathour as the batting coach of the national team. He has been appointed on a consultancy basis, with his primary focus on preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.”
Sri Lanka’s World Cup Prospects
Sri Lanka has struggled in recent T20 World Cups, having won the title in 2014 by defeating India but failing to reach the semifinals in subsequent editions. In 2024, they were eliminated in the group stage.
In T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka is placed in Group B, alongside Australia, Ireland, Oman, and Zimbabwe. Their campaign will begin on 8 February, when they face Ireland in Colombo. Rathour’s expertise is expected to provide a much-needed boost to the team’s batting unit.
Discover more from SD NEWS agency
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.