Shocking Blow for RR as Rahul Dravid Resigns as Head Coach

Ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League, Rajasthan Royals have announced that they have parted ways with head coach Rahul Dravid. For IPL 2025, Rahul Dravid returned with RR after winning the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 with Team India. Dravid, who played 46 IPL games for the Rajasthan Royals, joined the team as head coach last year. However, Dravid fell short in the 2025 season of the world's richest cricket league. From 2011 to 2015, Dravid played five seasons with the squad, coaching them in 2014 and 2015 after guiding them in 2012 and 2013.

Under his guidance, one of the best teams in IPL, Rajasthan Royals, could only win four games out of 14. Rajasthan Royals were placed in ninth position in IPL 2025. The success pattern of India did not work with RR, and team performance was poor. For the next season, Dravid was given a more expansive position within the franchise as part of a recent structural review, but he declined. Following his retirement from cricket, he served as a mentor for several years before being hired as the head coach of the Royals in 2023. He received recognition for improving the team's culture and performance.

Rajasthan Royals Shares Heartfelt Message for Rahul Dravid

“Your presence in Pink inspired both the young and the seasoned. Forever a Royal. Forever grateful," Rajasthan Royals captioned the farewell post for Dravid. “Rajasthan Royals today announced that head coach Rahul Dravid will conclude his tenure with the franchise ahead of IPL 2026. Rahul has been central to the Royals’ journey for many years. His leadership has influenced a generation of players, instilled strong values within the squad, and left an indelible mark on the culture of the franchise," the franchise stated in a post on social media.

“As part of the franchise structural review, Rahul had been offered a broader position at the franchise, but has chosen not to take this. The Rajasthan Royals, its players, and millions of fans worldwide extend heartfelt thanks to Rahul for his remarkable service to the franchise," the statement added.

During the last season Rajasthan Royals had a good young team. After suffering a foot injury while playing club cricket in Bengaluru, Dravid himself struggled through his coaching stints and was mostly restricted to a wheelchair for the season. The young and talented Vaibhav Suryavanshi got a perfect start to his cricketing career. The 14-year-old grabbed everyone's attention when he scored 100 off 35 balls. Even Rahul Dravid, who was in a wheelchair chair could not stop himself from celebrating the century.

Will Sanju Samson leave Rajasthan Royals

Sanju Samson's 11-year stint with the Rajasthan Royals may be coming to an end, according to many media sources. Although Samson and the team have not released an official statement, reports indicate that the captain is set to split ways. Earlier, Ravichandran Ashwin approached him directly. But Samson laughed and dismissed it. Furthermore, Sanju's silence increased speculation within the team.

Will Rajasthan Royals go with Kumar Sangakkara?

The Rajasthan Royals may decide to hire a new head coach in the future or bring back Kumar Sangakkara, who was promoted to Director of Cricket upon Dravid's appointment. Shane Bond is the bowling coach, Vikram Rathour is the batting coach, and Sangakkara is the director of cricket for RR at the moment. Since their first IPL victory in 2008, the team has not won the championship; their best result to date was finishing second to the Gujarat Titans in 2022.