Jaipur, August 30: Rajasthan Royals on Saturday confirmed the departure of head coach Rahul Dravid, ending his second stint with the franchise in less than a year. Dravid, who returned to the Royals on September 6, 2024, after completing his tenure with Team India, had earlier captained and coached the side.
“Head coach Rahul Dravid will conclude his tenure with the franchise ahead of IPL 2026,” the franchise said in a statement.
“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. 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,” it added.
The Royals endured a difficult 2025 campaign, securing just four wins from 14 matches and finishing ninth in the table — narrowly above Chennai Super Kings on net run rate. Despite the appointment of Vikram Rathour as batting coach and high expectations from a strong squad, the team struggled for consistency throughout the season.
As part of an internal structural review, Royals offered Dravid a broader role within the franchise, but he declined. His exit marks the end of another chapter in his long association with the franchise that began in 2011.
Dravid first donned the Royals’ jersey as a player in 2011, leading the side as captain in 2012 and 2013, before serving as team director and mentor in 2014–15. His return as head coach in 2024 was widely praised for bolstering both performance and culture within the squad.
Notably, Dravid played a crucial role in shaping RR’s squad ahead of the new three-year IPL cycle, backing the retention of core players including skipper Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, and Shimron Hetmyer.
With Dravid’s exit, Rajasthan Royals will now look for a new head coach to steer the team forward in IPL 2026.
