Coaching chaos and captaincy rift: RR face crisis after Rahul Dravid’s exit

Rahul Dravid left the job of Rajasthan Royals head coach. (Photo: IPL)

The Rajasthan Royals (RR) camp has been thrown into disarray following the sudden departure of head coach Rahul Dravid ahead of IPL 2026. While whispers about his exit had been circulating for months, the timing and underlying reasons have shocked fans and experts alike.

RR endured a disastrous IPL 2025 campaign, finishing ninth on the table with only four wins from 14 matches. Considering Dravid had just guided India to a World Cup triumph, expectations from him were enormous. Many believed his calm and structured approach would perfectly complement the Royals’ philosophy of nurturing young talent. However, the high-pressure, result-driven nature of the IPL proved to be a mismatch with his patient style, ultimately leading to friction.

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According to a Cricbuzz report, the Royals made every effort to retain Dravid, even offering him an expanded role, but he declined and chose to step away.

Complicating matters further is the Sanju Samson situation. The long-serving skipper reportedly requested the franchise to release him after an injury-plagued and underwhelming season. While Samson and Dravid were not directly at odds, the tension surrounding his future only added to the unease within the camp.

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The uncertainty around captaincy deepened the divide inside RR. Reports indicate the squad split into three factions: one backing Riyan Parag, who briefly captained in Dravid’s absence, another pushing Yashasvi Jaiswal as the long-term leader, and a third still supporting Samson to continue. This leadership tug-of-war has left the franchise fractured, and Dravid’s resignation has only intensified the turmoil.

Attention now turns to Kumar Sangakkara, the team’s director of cricket, who may step in as head coach. However, even his future remains unclear, with speculation linking him to other IPL franchises. Should Sangakkara move on, names like Vikram Rathour and Trevor Penney could emerge as stabilizing options for the Royals.

The biggest unresolved issue, however, is Sanju Samson’s fate. With two years left on his RR contract, he cannot leave unless the franchise trades him or releases him back into the auction pool. This leaves three possibilities: a trade to another team, a release into the next auction, or Samson reluctantly staying put with the Royals.