Sri Lanka appoints Vikram Rathour as batting coach: Strengthening their preparations for the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has appointed former India batting coach Vikram Rathour as the team's batting coach on a consultancy basis.
The tournament is scheduled to be played in February-March this year, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. According to an official statement from SLC, the main objective of Rathour's appointment is to prepare and strategically strengthen the team's batting unit for this major global event.
Tenure & Experience
Vikram Rathour's tenure will run from January 18 to March 10, 2026. He is not only an experienced former cricketer but also highly regarded in the field of coaching.
- Indian Team Experience: Rathour served as the batting coach of the Indian men's team from September 2019 to July 2024.
- IPL Connection: He currently also serves as the Lead Assistant Coach for the IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals.
The 'Indian Coaching' Influence in the Sri Lankan Camp
Rathour's appointment comes just a month after Sri Lanka secured the services of former Indian fielding coach R Sridhar. Sridhar was also appointed as the fielding coach on a temporary basis with the World Cup in mind. Now, the duo of Rathour and Sridhar, who have worked extensively with Team India, will be preparing the Sri Lankan players.
T20 World Cup 2026: Sri Lanka's Schedule
Sri Lanka has been placed in Group B for the upcoming World Cup. This group includes the following teams:
- Australia
- Ireland
- Zimbabwe
- Oman
Sri Lanka will begin their campaign on February 8th against Ireland in Colombo. Taking advantage of home conditions and under the guidance of experienced coaches, Sri Lanka will be looking to emerge as strong contenders for the title this time.
