Kumar Sangakkara

Kumar Sangakkara Takes Over as RR head coach IPL 2026

Pranvit Singh Dang

Published - Nov 17, 2025, 06:31 AM

3 min

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Rajasthan Royals

Kumar Sangakkara has officially returned as the Rajasthan Royals new coach, taking charge as the RR head coach for IPL 2026 and replacing Rahul Dravid. The announcement has made fans celebrating the comeback of one of T20 cricket’s most strategic minds. Sangakkara, who previously served as both Director of Cricket and Head Coach, is now back in full control as Rajasthan Royals enter a crucial phase ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. His reappointment signals a clear shift toward stability, long-term vision, and a return to a more analytics-driven approach that earlier helped RR reach the IPL 2022 final under his coaching.

Why RR Chose Sangakkara Again for IPL 2026

Rajasthan Royals made the decision to bring back Sangakkara after evaluating the franchise’s performance over the last two seasons, where inconsistency and middle-order instability were major concerns. With his deep understanding of the RR setup, strong relationship with players, and proven ability to groom young Indian talent such as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag, Sangakkara was the ideal choice to reset the franchise’s direction. His strategic style, which blends data-backed matchups with flexible batting and bowling blueprints, aligns perfectly with the Royals' long-term competitive model. As Kumar Sangakkara RR coach, he will once again shape scouting, squad-building, and auction decisions to make the first time champions as one of the best team in IPL.

What Does RR Lead Owner Manoj Badale Say?

As IPL 2026 retentions came to end, Rajasthan Royals take a big step in the coaching setup by reappointing Kumar Sangakkara in the team but as Head Coach ahead of IPL 2026. The RR Lead owner Manoj Badale expressed his gratitude and said,

We are delighted to have Kumar return as Head Coach - as we looked at what the team needed at this stage, we felt that his familiarity within the squad, his leadership & his deep understanding of the Royals culture would bring the right balance of continuity and stability - Kumar has always had our complete trust as a leader. His clarity, calmness & cricketing intelligence will play an important role in guiding the squad into this next phase.

Impact on RR’s Roadmap to IPL 2026

Sangakkara’s return is expected to heavily influence Rajasthan Royals’ preparation for the IPL 2026 auction. RR are now aiming to rebuild their middle order, redefine their death bowling combinations, and identify role-specific recruits to avoid the imbalances that hurt them in recent seasons. With Sangakkara at the helm, Royals are also expected to work him with some of the best all-rounders in IPL. For a franchise seeking momentum ahead of the next IPL cycle, Sangakkara’s presence promises experience, clarity, and sharper decision-making.

Rahul Dravid was always seen as a transitional figure in the RR coaching plans, and his brief stint helped the franchise navigate a period of internal restructuring. With Dravid now stepping aside, the Royals wanted someone who could offer continuity, long-term planning, and previous success within the franchise. Sangakkara’s return fills that need perfectly. His prior work with young players, auction strategies, and match tactics made him the natural successor once Dravid completed his short-term assignment.