Sri Lanka's New Batting Coach: Former batting coach Vikram Rathour, who helped India win the T20 World Cup, will now be seen working with the Sri Lankan cricket team. Sri Lanka Cricket has appointed him as their national team's batting coach ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup. This appointment of Rathour is considered a major strategic move for Sri Lanka ahead of the World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Interestingly, Rathour’s tenure with the side will go on from January 18 to March 10. Notably, he held the role of team India’s batting coach from September 2019 to July 2024. He is also currently the lead assistant coach at Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.
"Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to announce the appointment of former India Batting Coach Vikram Rathour as the Batting Coach of the Sri Lanka National Team."
"He has been appointed on a consultancy basis, with a primary focus on the team’s preparation for the ICC Men's T20I World Cup 2026," Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement.
Was Part of the Indian Dressing Room from 2019 to 2024
Former international cricketer Rathour played six Test matches and seven One Day Internationals for India. The 56-year-old served as the Indian team's batting coach from September 2019 to July 2024. Rathour was part of the team when India reached the finals of the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup. He is a BCCI Level 3 certified coach. In the Indian Premier League (IPL), he is part of the support staff of Rajasthan Royals.
The appointment of the former Indian batting coach comes at a time when Sri Lanka is trying to bounce back after the disappointment of the 2024 T20 World Cup. Since then, Sri Lanka has won only two of the six bilateral series they have played. They also recently suffered a defeat in the first T20 International against Pakistan. Sri Lanka is placed in Group B along with Australia, Ireland, Oman, and Zimbabwe. Sri Lanka will begin their campaign against Ireland on February 8th.
There has been a number of changes in the Sri Lanka men's team in recent times. Lasith Malinga has been retained as a consultant bowling coach, though that arrangement ends before the start of the T20 World Cup and R Sridhar, another former staffer with the India team, has been appointed fielding coach.
Sri Lanka's T20 World Cup Schedule
Sri Lanka vs. Ireland: February 8
Sri Lanka vs. Oman: February 12
Australia vs. Sri Lanka: February 16
Sri Lanka vs. Zimbabwe: February 19
Sri Lanka T20I Squad: Dasun Shanaka (C), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushan Hemantha, Traveen Mathew, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, Eshan Malinga.
