On Saturday, August 30, Rajasthan Royals (RR) announced a bombing about the future of India’s legend and his head coach Rahul Dravid at the franchise.
Rajasthan Royals (RR) surprisingly stated that he has decided to participate with Rahul Dravida ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 and praised his remarkable services for the team.
Rahul Dravid started the Rajasthan Royals Yatra in 2011
Famous Indian batsman Rahul Dravid began his journey with the inaugural IPL champion in 2011 when he was bought by Rajasthan Royals, as the royal challengers Bangalore did not bid for him.
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He paid 343 runs in the season to pay the franchise’s trust and emerged as the team’s top run-scorer. In the next season, Dravid was appointed as the new captain of the team and continued in the role until 2013.
In those two sessions on the hull, Rahul Dravid was excellent with the bat as he scored 462 and 471 runs. In addition, he captained RR in 40 matches and won 23.
He served as the team’s patron and director in 2014 and 2015 and had a good tenure. Then, Rahul Dravid was officially nominated as the head coach of the new Rajasthan Royals in September 2024, behind his victory with Team India in the T20 World Cup 2024.
He signed a multi-year-old agreement with the franchise, but in IPL 2025, Rajasthan Royals finished ninth on the points table with just four wins in 14 matches, and both parties decided to participate.
In particular, Rajasthan Royals offered a comprehensive strategic role to Rahul Dravid after a structural review, but he chose not to accept it.
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Rahul Dravid left Rajasthan Royals due to a rift with Sanju Samson?
Rahul Dravid’s departure from Rajasthan Royals (RR) has come amid controversy around the captain, Sanju Samson, who has asked the franchise for his release, many have convicted the crack between the pair for the exit of the head coach.
However, a report by Cricbuzz has peeled the layers of Rahul Dravid’s exit, which suddenly looks in nature but is not really one. After the conclusion of IPL 2025, team owner Manoj Badle called for a season review meeting in London, where Dravid was present, and he was offered a “broad” role that he rejected.
Although the exit of Dravid is associated with Sanju Samson, it is not the case at all. The disagreement between Dravid and Samson was no more than the general coach-captain spat, and things got better between them during the final stages of the competition.
“Their relationship was believed that the common, normal and regular disagreement seen in the relationship between any coach and the captain. In fact, they both have the hands of the old Royals, and one would only assume that they would be important for the future of the franchise simultaneously, and it was to read again and again in the last few sports.”
In particular, Samson’s unhappiness was not purely about Dravid, and currently, RR has three schools of consideration; The first is taking the side of Ryan Parag as a future captain, another camp wants Yashasvi Jiswal on the hull, while the third group wants Sanju Samson to continue on the hull.
Kumar Sangakkara to make Dravid successful?
Cricket Kumar Sangakkara’s RR Director Dravid can be successful as the head coach, but the final decision on the matter will be made after a meeting in London, where Vikram Rathore will also be present.
“It is not clear whether Sangakkara has been invited to the London meeting, but it is understood that former India batting coach Vikram Rathore, who joined the Royals last year, is likely to attend Vikram Rathore. For now, it seems that Rathore is expected to continue with the franchise,” the report says.
In addition, many IPL franchises are interested in Dravid in their setup, and India’s legend can be seen in one of the team’s dugouts in the upcoming sessions.
After coming back in the Sanju Samson case, Kerala wants to leave the superstar, not directly associated with Rahul Dravid; Therefore, their exit will not change the mind of the batsman, with the final decision in the hands of the franchise.
“The presence or absence of Dravid makes a very little difference, as Samson’s relationship with the franchise has reached a platform, where he has requested the franchise to search for a business on his behalf. It clearly indicates that he is looking for a new direction. But may not be a choice of Samson, except the team.”
cricbuzz exclusive
Rahul Dravid’s exit from Rajasthan Royals may be suddenly.
But the whispers were growing for months: about the coach, captain and the direction of the team.
Full story pic.twitter.com/f6gf5ngpdq
– Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) August 30, 2025
