‘We have a lot of depth’ – Vikram Rathour not concerned about India’s transition

Vikram Rathour. (Photo Source: Getty Images)

India’s batting coach until the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2024, Vikram Rathour, has said that the national team boasts a rich talent pool, noting the emergence of numerous  talented players within the system. He expressed that the imminent transitional phase should not be a concern, stressing the imperative for meticulous management by the team’s leadership.

“I won’t be too concerned about it [the transition]. We have a lot of depth in Indian cricket. There are lots of very talented and skilful players who are coming through the system. The only thing we need to make sure is the transition is done in a controlled manner. It needs to be gradual,” stated Rathour as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Rathour expressed confidence that India has a wealth of young players emerging, capable of forming the nucleus of the team across formats for the next decade. He specifically mentioned several players in the white-ball formats whom he believed would anchor the team going forward.

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“I am hoping that by then, players like Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, to name a few, would establish themselves and will make the transition smooth. In ODIs also, we have experienced players like Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Hardik Pandya to take over,” mentioned Rathour.

They are going to be the backbone of Indian batting in the years to come: Rathour

Rathour emphasised that he believes Gill and Jaiswal possess the technical and skillful prowess required to excel across all three formats. He also expressed that these two players could become the cornerstone of Indian batting in a few years.

“There are many exciting players coming through but these two [Gill and Jaiswal] are equipped to play all three formats for a long time. They are going to be the backbone of Indian batting in years to come,” added Rathour.

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The team that recently concluded their tour to Zimbabwe was led by VVS Laxman, serving in an interim capacity in lieu of Rahul Dravid, while Gautam Gambhir, the appointed long-term successor, is slated to assume the role starting from the Sri Lankan tour. The composition of his coaching staff remains undecided at present.