Head coach Dravid parts ways with Rajasthan Royals

Rahul Dravid's stint as head coach of Rajasthan Royals has come to an end after just one season. In a statement on Saturday, the franchise said Dravid was offered a broader position within the setup, but he "has chosen not to take this".

Dravid's exit despite having a multi-year contract follows a structural review after the team's ninth-place finish at IPL 2025, their worst finish since 2022 as they managed just four wins in 14 matches.

"Head coach Rahul Dravid will conclude his tenure with the franchise ahead of IPL 2026," the release stated. "Rahul has been central to the royals' journey for many years. His leadership has influenced a generation of players, instilled strong values within the squad, and left an indelible mark on the culture of the franchise.

"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."

Dravid was central to Royals' auction strategy as well as their retentions ahead of a fresh three-year cycle. The franchise retained Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer ahead of the season that was marred by injuries to key players as well as their inability to cross the line in a number of last-over finishes.

Dravid first joined Royals as a player in 2011, and captained them for two seasons (2012 and 2013), before serving them as team director and mentor in 2014 and 2015.

More to follow...