New Delhi, September 10, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Former India batting coach Vikram Rathour believes the influx of Indian cricket expertise can significantly strengthen the European T20 Premier League (ETPL), while stressing that sustained development of local players will be crucial to the competition’s long-term success.
Rathour is serving as head coach of Dublin Guardians, co-owned by former India captain and head coach Rahul Dravid, in the inaugural ETPL season. The Ravichandran Ashwin-led side recorded its first win of the tournament on Wednesday and currently sits fifth in the standings.
Rathour said the experience of professionals who have worked in the Indian Premier League (IPL) can benefit the emerging European competition.
“India has been the powerhouse of cricket, or let’s say T20 cricket as well, with IPL being managed in India. So, it is great to have people from India coming to these parts of the world and sharing their experiences and what they have learned from working in the IPL or other leagues,” Rathour said during a virtual interaction.
Rathour and Dravid previously worked together with the Indian team, with Dravid serving as head coach and Rathour as batting coach. He said Dravid’s understanding of the game has made their association at Dublin Guardians particularly smooth.
“He has been on this side for long enough to understand how this game goes. So, it is great to have him as a co-owner of the team I have to deal with,” Rathour said.
Despite the Guardians’ difficult start, Rathour said the franchise’s vision goes beyond immediate results. The long-term objective, he said, is to develop cricket and cricketers in Europe, particularly in Ireland.
“Results are definitely important, but the vision is bigger than the results,” he said, adding that the franchise wants to retain promising local players and maintain a year-round connection with them to support their training and development.
Rathour, who is also lead assistant coach of Rajasthan Royals, said that approach aligns strongly with his own coaching philosophy.
“That vision works for me as well as a coach, because that is one thing I want to do, that I want to coach basically. I want to improve as a coach,” he said.
He also backed Europe’s potential to emerge as a major destination for franchise cricket, arguing that domestic participation would be central to any league’s sustainability.
In the Guardians squad, six players are from Ireland, while two others come from Scotland and the Netherlands. Rathour said such a blend of local and overseas talent could give the ETPL a stronger foundation than leagues dominated entirely by foreign players.
“If we can keep working with them throughout the year and make sure they develop as players, you will see a lot of these guys playing in different leagues and, hopefully, in the IPL as well in the times to come,” he said.
Rathour also believes the European setting itself could help attract players from around the world if the league continues to grow.
FOLLOW NOW
