Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has made a high-profile addition to their backroom staff by appointing former Indian opener Vikram Rathour as the men’s national team batting coach. The appointment, confirmed on Thursday, brings Rathour on board on a “consultancy basis” with a laser focus on the upcoming ICC Men’s T20I World Cup 2026, which is set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Rathour is scheduled to join the Lions’ camp on January 18, just days before they kick off their home white-ball series against England. His tenure is currently slated to run until March 10, covering the entirety of the World Cup, which concludes with the final on March 8.
A Strategic Coaching Overhaul for the Lions
The acquisition of Rathour is part of a broader restructuring by Sri Lanka Cricket as they aim for a deep run in the home tournament. He isn’t the only former Indian staffer in the dugout; R Sridhar has also been brought in as the fielding coach. While legendary pacer Lasith Malinga remains the consultant bowling coach for now, his current arrangement is expected to wrap up shortly before the World Cup begins.
Beyond the coaching staff, the leadership on the field is also seeing a shift. Dasun Shanaka has returned to the helm, replacing Charith Asalanka as the T20I captain for the duration of the World Cup cycle. These changes extend to the boardroom as well, where former fast bowler Pramodya Wickramasinghe has taken the reins as the head of the men’s selection committee.
Rathour’s Pedigree and the Rajasthan Royals Connection
Vikram Rathour brings a wealth of elite coaching experience to the Sri Lankan side. After a prolific domestic career with Punjab and a stint with the Indian national team in the mid-90s, he transitioned into one of the most respected coaches in the game. He served a five-year term as India’s batting coach, spanning the eras of both Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid, which culminated in India’s T20 World Cup victory in 2024.
Since leaving the Indian setup, Rathour has been active in the IPL with the Rajasthan Royals (RR). This role allowed him to build a strong professional rapport with Kumar Sangakkara, the Sri Lankan icon who serves as RR’s Director of Cricket and Head Coach. It is likely that this connection played a significant role in bringing Rathour’s expertise to the Sri Lankan national setup. With a brief stint coaching New Zealand’s Test side also under his belt, Rathour’s diverse experience will be vital as Sri Lanka looks to master their home conditions in 2026.
