The New Zealand Test team have acquired the services of former India cricket team's batting coach, Vikram Rathour. He will join the Blackcaps' support staff for the one-off Test match against Afghanistan.
The one-off Test between the two teams is scheduled to take place in Noida, starting on September 9, 2024.
The match in Noida, India will be hosted by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) in what is considered as a historic occasion as the two sides will meet for the first time in Test cricket.
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Why did New Zealand rope in former India batting coach Vikram Rathour for the Test match against Afghanistan?
As former India batting coach, Rathour was part of the support staff of the team that won the recent T20 World Cup 2024. He had served in that role from the year 2019 to 2024, during the tenure of head coaches Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid.
The New Zealand Test team roped him in as a part of the support staff for the Test match against Afghanistan due to his extensive experience of the Indian subcontinent conditions.
Rathour is expected to join in with the Kiwi squad soon as the Blackcaps had arrived in India earlier this week.
Additionally, New Zealand has also roped in former Sri Lanka left-arm spinner Rangana Herath as a bowling coach for the Test match against Afghanistan.
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Why did New Zealand acquire the services of former Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath?
While Herath was roped in for the one-off Test match against Afghanistan in Noida, he might continue with the squad for the tour of Sri Lanka series as well.
The Sri Lankan legend was selected as a part of the support staff ahead of Pakistan's Saqlain Mushtaq.
In a statement released by New Zealand Cricket (NZC), head coach Gary Stead was delighted about the highly valued additions to the team's support staff.
"We're really excited to introduce Rangana and Vikram into our Test group," he said.
Stead emphasized that Herath and Rathour are regarded highly with respect in the cricket community and hoped that the players will be able to learn from them and prepare for the upcoming series.
"For our three left-arm orthodox spinners in particular, Ajaz, Mitch and Rachin, having the chance to work with Rangana across three Tests on the sub-continent will be hugely beneficial. Rangana has taken over 100 Test wickets in Galle which is the venue of our two Tests against Sri Lanka and so his knowledge of that venue will be priceless," he added.
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