IPL: Rahul Dravid steps down as Rajasthan Royals head coach

In an interesting turn of events, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) have confirmed the departure of their head coach, Rahul Dravid, from the franchise ahead of the IPL 2026 mini auction, on Saturday, August 30.

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Notably, Dravid was appointed as the franchise’s head coach on September 6, 2024, on a multi-year deal. Though he was offered a broader role after the recent structural review, he decided to decline the offer.

"Rahul has been central to the Royals' journey over many years. His leadership has influenced a generation of players, built strong values within the squad, and left an indelible mark on the culture of the franchise," the RR statement read.

"As part of the franchise structural review, Rahul had been offered a broader position at the franchise, but has chosen not to take this. The Rajasthan Royals, its players, and millions of fans worldwide extend heartfelt thanks to Rahul for his remarkable service to the franchise,” the statement added.

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It’s important to note that Dravid was previously part of the RR set-up between 2011 and 2015 as a player and a coach, before making his return to the franchise as a head coach after winning the T20 World Cup title for India in 2024.

However, the Royals finished the IPL 2025 season at ninth spot, winning only four games and losing 14 games. Interestingly, the franchise lost multiple games, slipping from winning positions.

Under Dravid’s captaincy, the franchise finished third in IPL 2013 and went on to reach the Champions League T20 final the same year. Notably, Dravid captained the team in 40 matches across two seasons, winning 23 with a win percentage of 57.50, the best among Royals skippers with 20 or more games.

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Under Dravid, the franchise has unveiled players like Sanju Samson, Ajinkya Rahane, Pravin Tambe, and most recently, Vaibhav Suryavanshi.

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