Vikram Rathour ditches team India right after Gautam Gambhir's appointment joins this team

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has appointed former India batting coach Vikram Rathour and Sri Lankan spin legend Rangana Herath for crucial roles ahead of the Afghanistan series.

Vikram Rathour and Rangana Herath will help the New Zealand team prepare for the upcoming Test series in Asia.

New Zealand will play its next three-Test series against Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and India.

The team will take on Afghanistan in a one-off Test from September 9-13 in Greater Noida in India. Following that, they will compete in two Test matches in Sri Lanka and three Test matches in India.

Vikram Rathour And Rangana Herath To Join New Zealand Team

New Zealand Cricket roped in Vikram Rathour to help the national team prepare for the one-off Test match against Afghanistan.

Rathour was recently part of the Indian coaching staff during the T20 World Cup 2022 win. He will be with the New Zealand team only for the Test against Afghanistan.

Rathour played six Tests and seven ODIs for India in the late 1990s. He later served as a national selector and was a batting coach during Rahul Dravid's tenure.

Rangana Herath will be the spin-bowling coach for the New Zealand team. Herath replaces Saqlain Mushtaq, who had been originally selected for the role.

Herath will continue with the New Zealand team for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) matches against Sri Lanka later this month.

Excited To Introduce Rangana Herath And Vikram Rathour - Gary Stead

New Zealand head coach Gary Stead was excited about the inclusion of Vikram Rathour and Rangana Herath in the support staff. He noted that their expertise will provide valuable insights into local conditions. Stead added that players are eager to learn from them.

“We’re really excited to introduce Rangana and Vikram into our Test group. Both men are held in high regard in the world of cricket and I know our players are really looking forward to the opportunity to learn from them,” Stead said.

“For our three left-arm orthodox spinners in particular, Ajaz, Mitch, and Rachin having the chance to work with Rangana across three Tests on the sub-continent will be hugely beneficial."

“Rangana has taken over 100 Test wickets in Galle which is the venue of our two Tests against Sri Lanka and so his knowledge of that venue will be priceless.”

Following the Sri Lanka tour later this month, New Zealand will return to India to play three Test matches in Bengaluru, Pune, and Mumbai. The one against Afghanistan will not be part of the World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle.

Ajaz Patel, Mitchell Santner, and Rachin Ravindra could be the first-choice spinners for New Zealand. Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips can contribute with the ball in the upcoming Tests. The squad for the India Tests has not been announced yet.

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