Legendary South Africa National Cricket Team batsman AB de Villiers has made a huge claim on the exit of head coach Rahul Dravid from Rajasthan Royals (RR).
AB de Villiers feels that after failing to meet expectations under the team’s guidance, Rahul Dravid was actually excluded from Rajasthan Royals (RR).
Rahul Dravid and Rajasthan Royals part methods
On Saturday, August 30, Rajasthan Royals (RR) announced that they have decided to participate with the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, head coach Rahul Dravid.
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Dravid was officially nominated in September 2024 as the head coach of the new Rajasthan Royals, and he signed a multi-year agreement with the franchise.
This was a homecoming for Rahul Dravid as he has been associated with franchise for a long time. In 2011, he was planted by the team before being nominated as captains for the IPL 2012 and 2013 season. After that, he served as the team’s patron and director in 2014 and 2015.
In 2025, there were high expectations from Rajasthan Royals under Rahul Dravid, who joined the team behind the T20 World Cup 2024 Triumph with the India National Cricket Team.
However, Rajasthan Royals made a poor auction and performed very well in IPL 2025, with just four wins in 14 matches, finished ninth on the table.
In the statement, RR revealed that he offered a comprehensive strategic role to Rahul Dravid, but he chose not to accept it. According to reports, Kumar Sangakkara can be appointed as the new head coach, but nothing has been confirmed yet.
He is the character of a big life-Rahul Dravid
Speaking on his social media show ‘360 Live’, AB de Villiers estimated that Dravid was dismissed after dismissing the broad role and expressed his desire to be a part of the team management.
“It seems to me as it was a call like a owner or management. He gave him the option to play a broad role in the team. He turns it down. Perhaps he was upset because he really still wanted to join. AB de Villiers said.
“He is a big character from life, and he knows a lot about the game. And I personally have talked to the youth in the show as well. In fact, some of my interviews were with many people who had a huge impact on his career. So, yes, you will definitely laze out.”
Maybe they want to move things a little and go ahead with it – AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers further explained with a football analogy of how Rahul Dravid was taken out due to underperformance and said the franchise goes through a major shakeup.
“Sometimes you see it in the Premier League, as well, the football league, where the manager and the coaches are always under pressure to perform and bring the trophy home. And once they do not, they start listening to the owners and who decide for different leagues, sorry, franchisees, so we don’t really think.
“But Rajasthan may have different views for the upcoming season. They may want to shake things a little and move forward with it. I don’t think they had the biggest auction last time, as they allow some incredible players to go, the choice of Jose Butler, but some, which I felt that I felt that they are a good thing.
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