Former Indian batting coach Vikram Rathour has been appointed as the batting coach of the Sri Lankan national team. The announcement, confirmed by Sri Lankan journalist Rex Clementine, comes ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.

Rathour previously served as India’s batting coach during Rahul Dravid’s tenure and was part of the support staff that guided the Men in Blue to their T20 World Cup victory in 2024. With extensive international experience, he brings valuable expertise to the Sri Lankan team.

According to reports, Rathour is expected to join Sri Lanka by January 15, at a crucial time as the team ramps up preparations for the tournament.

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Sri Lanka are set to bring in former India batter Vikram Rathour as the national team’s batting coach in the lead-up to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Rathour, who served as India’s batting coach until 2024, is currently the assistant coach of IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals. He is… pic.twitter.com/2hnLMx8jbu

— NewsWire 🇱🇰 (@NewsWireLK) January 7, 2026

The team recently announced an 18-member squad for a three-match T20I series against Pakistan, starting January 7. Sri Lanka have also confirmed the return of former captain Charith Asalanka to the T20 squad ahead of the World Cup. However, he will feature solely as a specialist batter.

When Dasun Shanaka was appointed T20I captain for the tri-series in Pakistan, it was decided that Asalanka would be relieved of captaincy duties to reduce pressure and focus on his batting form.

This series is part of Sri Lanka’s preparation plan to give players valuable match practice ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. As co-hosts, Sri Lanka will begin their campaign against Ireland on February 8, followed by matches against Oman, Australia, and Zimbabwe.

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Vikram Rathour's Coaching Journey

Vikram Rathour has had an impressive coaching career. He was first appointed India’s batting coach in 2019, and his contract was extended in 2024. During his tenure, India reached the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup and won the 2024 T20 World Cup.

After leaving the Indian team setup in 2024, Rathour joined Rajasthan Royals as batting coach and assistant coach for the IPL 2025 season. As a player, the 56-year-old represented India as a top-order batter in six Tests and seven ODIs between 1996 and 1997.

Lasith Malinga Returns to Sri Lanka Support Staff

Apart from Rathour, Sri Lanka has also welcomed back legendary fast bowler Lasith Malinga as a fast bowling consultant on a short-term basis. The Sri Lankan board announced on December 30 that Malinga will serve in this role for 40 days, effective from December 15.

With legends like Sanath Jayasuriya already serving as head coach, Sri Lanka’s coaching staff now has a strong mix of experience and cricketing knowledge.

Role in Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup Preparation

Rathour is expected to join the Sri Lankan team by January 15. The board has already announced its preliminary squad, which will play a three-match T20I series against Pakistan starting January 7. This series forms a key part of their final preparations for the World Cup.

Sri Lanka’s Preliminary T20 World Cup Squad

Dasun Shanaka (captain), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Janith Liyanage, Charith Asalanka, Kamindu Mendis, Pavan Rathnayake, Sahan Arachchige, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Milan Rathnayake, Nuwan Thushara, Eshan Malinga, Dushmantha Chameera, Pramod Madushan, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushan Hemantha, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Traveen Mathew

Outgoing batting coach Vikram Rathour from Team India recommended Rinku Singh’s inclusion in the Test squad. Rathour praised Rinku for his temperament, seeing him as a perfect fit for Test cricket.

During his time as Team India’s batting coach under Rahul Dravid’s guidance, Rathour closely watched Rinku’s progress. Despite Rinku’s success in white-ball cricket, particularly as a T20I finisher, Rathour believed he possessed the skills and technical prowess needed for Test cricket.

“One of the players to have moved up the ladder in the past two seasons is Rinku Singh, who has played two ODIs and 20 T20Is, but can’t be called a regular in the national side yet. He is a fantastic finisher in short-format cricket, but also averages 54.70 after 69 first-class innings,” Rathour told PTI, 

From IPL star to international debut

Rinku became well known during IPL 2023 and played his first international T20 matches against Ireland last year. He also started playing ODIs during the series against South Africa in December 2023.

Although Rinku didn’t secure a spot in Team India’s 15 member squad for the T20 World Cup 2024, he traveled as a reserve player, sparking disappointment among fans and experts. BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar acknowledged that omitting Rinku was a tough decision for the committee.

Rathour’s vision for Rinku in Tests

Rathour highlighted that while Rinku has made a name for himself in T20Is, he envisioned the batter thriving in Test cricket as well.

“When I see him bat in nets, I can’t find any technical reasons why Rinku cannot be a successful Test batter,” Rathour said. “I understand he has made his name as a terrific finisher in T20 cricket, but if you look at his first-class record, he is averaging in high 50s.

“He is also blessed with a very calm temperament. So all these factors indicate that, if given an opportunity, he can develop into a Test cricketer.”

In his T20I 20 appearances, Rinku has scored 416 runs at a strike rate of 176.27, including two fifties. It remains to be seen if he will receive an opportunity in Test cricket in the future.

The players of Team India and their head coach Rahul Dravid will each get Rs 5 crore from the Rs 125 crore prize money announced by the BCCI after winning the T20 World Cup 2024.

The BCCI has given a Rs 125 crore cash prize to Team India’s players, coaches, support staff, and senior selection committee members for winning the T20 World Cup 2024.

Breakdown of Rs 125 crore reward distribution

Most of the reward will go to the players and head coach Rahul Dravid. According to the Indian Express, the 15 main squad players, including those who didn’t play a match, and Dravid will each get Rs 5 crore. The three players who didn’t play a match are Yuzvendra Chahal, Sanju Samson, and Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Dravid’s coaching staff – batting coach Vikram Rathour, bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, and fielding coach T Dilip – will each get Rs 2.5 crore. The five-member senior selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, will each get Rs 1 crore.

Team India’s four reserve players – Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Avesh Khan, and Khaleel Ahmed – will each get Rs 1 crore.

The team’s three physiotherapists (Kamlesh Jain, Yogesh Parmar, and Thulasi Ram Yuvraj), three throwdown specialists (Raghavindraa Dvgi, Nuwan Udeneke, and Dayanand Garani), two masseurs (Rajeev Kumar and Arun Kanade), and the strength and conditioning coach (Soham Desai) will each get Rs 2 crore.

“Players and support staff have been told about the prize money they will get from the BCCI and have been asked to submit an invoice,” said a BCCI source.

The report noted that the Indian contingent for the 2024 T20 World Cup comprised 42 people. In addition to players, coaches, support staff, and selectors, the video analyst, BCCI staff members, media officers, and logistics manager will also receive rewards.

Team India batting coach Vikram Rathour on Thursday said that the Ranchi wicket hosting the fourth Test against England has “enough cracks” and it would favour the spinners as well. However, he also insisted that they have enough firepower to cope with any condition.

Team India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been the leading wicket-taker of the series but he has been given a rest in the fourth Test to manage his workload. The move has led many to believe that the pitch will be a rank-turner for the fourth Test starting Friday as well.

“It will turn” – Vikram Rathour on the pitch

“Everytime we play in India, there’s question mark on the pitch … It’s a typical Indian wicket, there are cracks, this wicket always had cracks,” Rathour told reporters on the eve of the match. “It will turn, but how much it will turn and from when we are not sure. But we have enough balance in our team.”

He also said Jasprit Bumrah is absolutely fine but it was not “advisable” to play the speedster continuously. The pacer has bowled 80.5 overs in three Tests, taking 17 wickets at an average of 13.64 as well.

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“I think every Test match is a crucial test match, to be honest. With WTC points, every game is crucial. Even we would love Bumrah to play all the games,” Rathour said. “But unfortunately that is not very advisable because the kind of workload he has had in the last three games. He has really bowled well and with a lot of heart, a lot of effort.”

“For the kind of schedule we have in the future, with IPL and all, it was felt by everybody involved that he should be given a break. Otherwise he is absolutely fine physically. But it was felt that it is better that he gets a break because there was hardly any turnaround time between the games,” he again shared.

“At the moment he is not fit” – Vikram Rathour on KL Rahul

Meanwhile, Team India’s top-order batter KL Rahul, who has been doing rehab after struggling with quadriceps pain, too was ruled out of the fourth Test and he seems doubtful for the final Test as well.

“For me either he is fit or he is not. At the moment he is not fit. I am not sure what percent he is fit at the moment and what is the stage. I am not sure, the medical team will be able to advise that but as far as we are concerned he is not fit and not available for this game, so we are focusing on this team,” he further added.

“It’s the selectors’ job to pick the 15. This question is better asked to them, I used to be a selector but I’m not anymore. At the moment we see that people who have done well in domestic cricket are promoted. It’s good everybody should get chances,” Vikram Rathour concluded.