Rahul Dravid stepped down as the head coach of IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals on Saturday. The announcement of the same was made by the Rajasthan Royals amidst rumours that skipper Sanju Samson also wants to leave the franchise.
"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," Royals posted in a statement on X.
"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, millions of fans worldwide extend heartfelt thanks to Rahul for his remarkable service to the franchise," the statement added.
If Samson also leaves the side, it will leave the Royals in a tricky position a few months before the mini auction.
Dravid's departure marks the end of a long and storied association with the franchise. He first joined Rajasthan Royals as a player in 2011 and captained the side during the 2012 and 2013 seasons. He later served as team director and mentor in 2014 and 2015, shaping RR's philosophy of backing young Indian talent.
With Dravid stepping away, the Rajasthan Royals become the second IPL franchise without a head coach ahead of IPL 2026, after the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Last month, Chandrakant Pandit parted ways with KKR despite guiding them to their first IPL title in a decade in 2024.
Meanwhile, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are also restructuring their support staff, recently appointing B. Arun as their bowling consultant. Currently, the Royals have Kumar Sangakkara as Director of Cricket, with Vikram Rathour as batting coach and Shane Bond handling the bowling department.
RR, who famously won the inaugural IPL title in 2008, has struggled for consistency ever since. Their best finish in recent years came in 2022, when they ended as runners-up to the Gujarat Titans.
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