Rahul Dravid set to return to Rajasthan Royals as head coach

Rahul Dravid set to return to Rajasthan Royals. (Image: X)

Rahul Dravid is set to return to the Rajasthan Royals (RR) as head coach ahead of the 2025 IPL season, following the conclusion of his tenure as India coach after their T20 World Cup victory in June this year.

Dravid has recently signed a contract with the franchise and has begun initial discussions regarding player retentions in preparation for the upcoming mega auction. He has a long-standing working relationship with Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson, who developed through the under-19 ranks under Dravid’s guidance.

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September 6, 2024

Dravid has a history with RR, having captained the team in the 2012 and 2013 IPL seasons and served as team director and mentor in 2014 and 2015. In 2016, he joined Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) before becoming the head of the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru in 2019. Dravid was appointed head coach of the Indian men’s team in 2021, leading them to their first ICC title in 11 years before concluding his three-year stint.

Rajasthan Royals are also expected to bring in former India batter Vikram Rathour as one of Dravid’s assistant coaches. Rathour, a former India selector, was part of Dravid’s coaching staff at the NCA before becoming India’s batting coach in 2019.

While Dravid will lead the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, Kumar Sangakkara, who has been their director of cricket since 2021, will remain with the franchise to oversee their teams in other leagues, including Paarl Royals in the SA20 and Barbados Royals in the CPL.

RR have not won the IPL title since their inaugural season in 2008, with their best finish in recent years being as runners-up to Gujarat Titans in 2022. They failed to reach the playoffs in 2023, finishing fifth despite a strong start, but qualified in 2024, only to be knocked out in Qualifier 2.