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Vikram Rathour, the former India batting coach, recently shared insights into his approach to coaching amidst a team brimming with cricketing luminaries. Stepping into the role in 2019 without prior experience coaching an international squad, Rathour faced the formidable task of guiding players of the caliber of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Ajinkya Rahane, and others.
Despite his background primarily in domestic cricket coaching, Rathour swiftly adapted, earning praise for his effective methods. His success was evident enough that he was retained as India’s batting coach when Rahul Dravid took over as head coach in 2021.
During a recent interview with Sportstar, Vikram Rathour shared his approach to handling the star-studded lineup of the Indian cricket team. The former batting coach emphasized the importance of honesty and fairness when dealing with high-profile players.
Rathour highlighted his philosophy of giving players another opportunity while being mindful of when it was necessary to make tough decisions and move forward. His insights underscored the delicate balance required in coaching elite athletes at the highest level.
“You need to be fair with them. I always believed it’s better to err on the side of giving one extra chance than one less. It would help if you provided one more game or extra opportunity,” said Vikram Rathour.
“But there are still some decisions to be made. And sometimes, unfortunately, things don’t work out with some cricketers. And there are times when you need to move ahead,” he added.
Last month, Vikram Rathour concluded his stint as India’s batting coach following the T20 World Cup. Alongside head coach Rahul Dravid, bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, and fielding coach T. Dilip, Rathour departed from the Indian team. Recently, former India opener Gautam Gambhir was appointed as the new head coach, succeeding Rahul Dravid in this pivotal role.
