Rahul Dravid has stepped down as the head coach of Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The franchise issued an official statement regarding Dravid’s departure. Dravid, who played 46 matches for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, took charge as the team’s head coach last year. However, under his coaching, the team’s performance in IPL 2025 was not impressive.
In an official statement, Rajasthan Royals said, “Head coach Rahul Dravid will end his tenure with Rajasthan Royals before IPL 2026. Rahul has been an integral part of the Royals’ journey for many years. His leadership has inspired an entire generation of players, instilled strong values within the team, and left an indelible mark on the franchise’s culture.”
The statement further added, “As part of the franchise’s structural review, Rahul Dravid was offered a broader role within the organisation, but he declined the offer. Rajasthan Royals, its players, and millions of fans worldwide thank Rahul Dravid for his outstanding services.”
“Your presence in pink…”
Rajasthan Royals also shared an emotional social media post dedicated to Rahul Dravid, stating, “Your presence in pink has inspired both young and experienced players. Forever a Royal. Forever grateful.”
Under Dravid’s coaching, Rajasthan Royals managed to win only four out of 14 matches in IPL 2025, finishing ninth on the points table. Before joining RR, Dravid served as the head coach of the Indian cricket team. During his tenure, India won the T20 World Cup 2024 under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy and also reached the final of the ODI World Cup 2023.
Did he quit for this reason?
During IPL 2025, reports surfaced claiming that things were not going smoothly within the Rajasthan Royals camp. Speculations suggested that captain Sanju Samson was unhappy with the team management. However, Rahul Dravid dismissed these rumours, calling them baseless and denied any conflicts within the team.