Colombo, 7 January. Sri Lanka Cricket Board, co-host with India in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, has made a major change in its coaching team before the tournament and has appointed former Indian Test batsman Vikram Rathore, who has served as the batting coach of the Indian and national teams, as its batting coach.

Rathod will join the Sri Lankan team by 15 January

56-year-old Vikram Rathore has held the responsibility of batting coach with the Indian team for a long time. The Indian team won the T20 World Cup 2024 title under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma. At that time Rathore was the batting coach of the Indian team. Rathore can join the Sri Lankan team by 15 January.

Was separated from the Indian team after T20 World Cup 2024

Rathore has worked with the Indian men’s team for five years. He separated from the team after the T20 World Cup 2024. In the year 2025, Rathore was the batting coach of Rajasthan Royals. He has also been a part of the coaching team of Punjab Kings. He played six Tests and seven ODIs for India between 1996 and 1997.

Former pacer Lasith Malinga is fast bowling advisor of Sri Lankan team.

In this sequence, the Sri Lanka Cricket Board has appointed former fast bowler Lasith Malinga as fast bowling consultant to strengthen its bowling department for the T20 World Cup 2026. The head coach of the Sri Lankan cricket team is Sanath Jayasuriya, the former captain of the team and one of the explosive opening batsmen of his time. With the addition of Malinga and Rathore, Sri Lanka’s coaching staff has become much stronger.

However, how much the result of the change in the coaching staff will be in Sri Lanka’s favor will be known only after the tournament. Looking at the current form, Sri Lanka is not considered a contender for the semi-finals. Sri Lanka has won the 2014 T20 World Cup under the captaincy of Lasith Malinga. Then in the final, Sri Lanka defeated India by six wickets.