Former Indian batting coach Vikram Rathore has been appointed to New Zealand’s coaching staff for their upcoming Test match against Afghanistan. The match, scheduled to be held from September 9 to 13 at the Greater Noida Sports Complex, will be a one-off Test before New Zealand heads to Sri Lanka for a two-Test series.
Rathore’s New Role with New Zealand
Rathore, who was previously part of the Indian coaching team under Rahul Dravid, will now bring his expertise to New Zealand’s squad for their match against Afghanistan. His tenure as India’s batting coach ended after their victory in the T20 World Cup earlier this year. Rathore played six Tests for India in the late 1990s and served as a national team selector in 2012.
Rangana Herath as Spin Coach
In addition to Rathore, former Sri Lankan spin legend Rangana Herath has also been brought on board as New Zealand’s spin bowling coach. Herath will assist the team during both the Afghanistan Test and the Sri Lanka series. With more than 100 wickets at Galle, Herath’s vast experience is expected to be invaluable, especially for New Zealand’s three left-arm orthodox spinners—Ajaz Patel, Mitchell Santner, and Rachin Ravindra—during the subcontinent series.
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Coach Gary Stead’s Excitement
New Zealand’s head coach Gary Stead expressed his excitement about adding Rathore and Herath to the coaching team. He highlighted the significant value both will bring, particularly with Herath’s knowledge of Sri Lankan pitches and Rathore’s experience working with top Indian batsmen. Stead mentioned that the New Zealand players are eager to learn from these two highly respected coaches.
This partnership of Rathore and Herath will be crucial as New Zealand prepares for their upcoming challenges, not only in the Afghanistan and Sri Lanka series but also in their three-Test series against India later in the year.
