In a move that is sure to excite Rajasthan Royals (RR) fans, former Indian cricket team head coach Rahul Dravid is set to return to the franchise as their new head coach for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. This announcement comes on the heels of Dravid’s successful tenure with the Indian national team, which culminated in their triumphant victory at the 2024 T20 World Cup in June.
Dravid’s Homecoming
According to reports from ESPNcricinfo, Dravid recently signed a deal with the Royals and has already engaged in preliminary discussions regarding player retentions ahead of the highly anticipated mega auction. The legendary cricketer shares a long-standing working relationship with RR captain Sanju Samson, having mentored him during his under-19 days.
Dravid’s association with the Rajasthan Royals dates back to 2012 when he served as the team’s captain for two seasons. He later took on the roles of team director and mentor in the 2014 and 2015 seasons, before moving to the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in 2016. His journey with the BCCI began in 2019 when he became the head of the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, eventually leading to his appointment as the head coach of the Indian men’s team in 2021.
Strengthening the Coaching Staff
As part of the restructuring, the Rajasthan Royals are reportedly set to bring on board former Indian batter Vikram Rathour as one of Dravid’s assistant coaches. Rathour, who has previously served as an India selector, was a member of Dravid’s coaching staff at the National Cricket Academy before taking on the role of India’s batting coach in 2019.
While Dravid takes charge of the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, Kumar Sangakkara, who has been the franchise’s director of cricket since 2021, will continue in his role and oversee their teams in other leagues, including the Paarl Royals in the SA20 and the Barbados Royals in the CPL.
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Dravid’s return to the Rajasthan Royals marks the beginning of a new era for the franchise. Despite their triumph in the inaugural IPL season in 2008, the Royals have struggled to replicate that success in recent years. Their runners-up finish in 2022 was their best result since their maiden title, and they narrowly missed out on the playoffs in 2023 after a promising start to the season.
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