IPL 2025: After Rahul Dravid, Vikram Rathour joins Rajasthan Royals

Former Indian batting Vikram Rathour has joined Rahul Dravid at the Rajasthan Royals (RR) ahead of the next edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). On Friday, September 20, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) announced the signing of Rathour as their batting coach for the upcoming IPL 2025.

Vikram Rathour and Dravid will once again team up, but this time for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) after helping the Indian cricket team to end the drought of the ICC trophy of more than a decade. They guided India to the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 and the finals of the ODI World Cup 2023 and WTC 2023.

Vikram Rathour joins Rajasthan Royals as batting coach ahead of IPL 2025

He brings a wealth of experience to his role. Renowned for his technical expertise, Vikram Rathour served as India's batting coach from 2019 to 2024. During his tenure, the former Indian batter played a key role in developing players like Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, and KL Rahul, guiding them through critical stages of their careers.

Before joining the Indian setup, Vikram Rathour held the position of national selector and also had coaching stints with Punjab and Himachal Pradesh in domestic cricket. He had represented India in six Tests and seven ODIs before making a successful transition to coaching.

Meanwhile, Rathour is looking forward to joining the Rajasthan Royals (RR) team and has expressed his excitement to be part of the IPL franchise, saying that it is a great honor to be with the winner of the first edition of the league.

The opportunity to work again with Rahul is exciting: Rathour

The former Indian batting coach is most excited to once again work with the former head coach, Rahul, who is now the Royals head coach. Rathour is keen on helping fulfill the vision for the team and on nurturing exceptional talent that could strengthen not just the RR but Indian cricket as well.

Vikram Rathour said in an official statement on RR's website: “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 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.”

Rahul Dravid warmly welcomes Vikram Rathour to RR Family

On the other hand, RR head coach Dravid warmly welcomed Rathour to the IPL franchise. Having collaborated with Rathour for many years, Dravid highlighted his technical knowledge, composed nature, and comprehensive understanding of Indian cricket conditions as key attributes that make him an ideal candidate to become the team’s batting coach.

Dravid said in the statement: “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 further strengthen our squad and continue building a world-class team here at Rajasthan Royals.”