“It is a challenging task to replace players of Rohit and Virat’s caliber,” Rathour told PTI. “The recent T20I series against Zimbabwe provided a glimpse of the future T20 team. However, we still have a few years in Test and ODI cricket to reach that point.”
“I am not too worried about the transition,” Rathour expressed. “Indian cricket has ample depth with many talented players emerging. The key is ensuring a gradual and controlled transition.”
Rathour believes that the influx of young players will form the core of the Indian team across formats for the next decade.
“I hope players like Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, among others, establish themselves and facilitate a smooth transition,” he stated. “In ODIs, we have experienced players such as Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Hardik Pandya to take over the reins.”
“There are several promising players emerging, but Gill and Jaiswal are capable of excelling in all three formats for an extended period. They will be the backbone of Indian batting in the coming years.”
Rathour: Rinku Singh ‘can develop into a Test cricketer’
“Observing his net sessions, I see no technical hindrances for Rinku to succeed in Test cricket,” Rathour remarked. “While excelling as a T20 player, his first-class record suggests capabilities for a successful Test career.”
Dravid ‘gives you lots of space to work’
Rathour praised his partnership with Rahul Dravid, highlighting Dravid’s openness to collaboration and feedback. Their association dates back to the 1990s when they made their international debuts around the same time, along with Paras Mhambrey, the bowling coach.
“Rahul is the best coach I’ve worked with, providing freedom to work, accepting suggestions, and offering honest feedback,” Rathour said. “Our initial conversations emphasized the need to infuse more intent and aggression in our T20 batting approach.”
Rathour cited Axar Patel as an example, addressing the team’s batting depth at No. 8. “This adjustment made a significant impact and allowed the top-order batsmen more freedom to play,” he explained.
