After just one season, Rahul Dravid’s time as head coach of the Rajasthan Royals (RR) is over. The team claimed in a statement on Saturday that Dravid had been given the opportunity to assume a more expansive role in the setup, but he declined.
Despite having a multi-year deal, Dravid left the team after a structural review following their IPL 2025 ninth-place result, which was their worst season since 2021 with only four wins in 14 games. Sanju Samson, RR’s captain since the 2021 Indian Premier League, also requested to be dismissed before the upcoming season, it was revealed earlier this month.
“Head coach Rahul Dravid will conclude his tenure with the franchise ahead of IPL 2026,” read the announcement. “Rahul has long played a key role in the Royals’ journey. His leadership has had a lasting impact on the franchise’s culture, shaped a generation of players, and instilled strong principles in the team.
“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.”
Dravid had a key role in both RR’s retentions and auction plan prior to a new three-year cycle. Prior to the season, which was characterized by several close finishes when the team failed to cross the finish line and injuries to key players, the team signed Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, and Shimron Hetmyer.
Prior to taking on the roles of team director and mentor in 2014 and 2015, Dravid had joined RR as a player in 2011 and captained the team for two seasons (2012 and 2013). His departure leaves at least two teams without a head coach for the 2026 Indian Premier League, with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) being the other. After leading KKR to their first IPL championship in a decade in 2024, Chandrakant Pandit made the decision to depart the team last month. The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), who recently hired B Arun as a bowling consultant, are also undergoing a support staff reorganization.
At the moment, RR has Shane Bond as bowling coach, Vikram Rathour as batting coach, and Kumar Sangakkara as cricket director. Since their triumph in the first season in 2008, the squad has not taken home the IPL championship. They came in second to the Gujarat Titans in 2022, which was their next-best result.
