Former Indian skipper and head coach Rahul Dravid is making a return to the Rajasthan Royals as the head coach of the franchise ahead of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. This news was reported by ESPNCricinfo recently. Dravid had a successful stint with Team India, ending on a high note by securing the ICC T20 World Cup trophy after defeating South Africa in the final in June. He has a history with the Rajasthan Royals, having played for the team from 2011 to 2013, where he scored 1,276 runs in 46 matches at an average of 29.67, with seven fifties. His best score for the franchise was 66.
Dravid also shares a close relationship with the franchise skipper Sanju Samson, who rose through the ranks under Dravid’s guidance in under-19 cricket. Dravid was the captain of RR in the IPL 2012 and 2013 and later served as their team director from 2014 to 2015. He then moved on to Delhi Capitals (DC) before joining the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in 2019. In 2021, he was appointed as the head coach of the Indian cricket team for all formats and ended his tenure with the ICC T20 World Cup title in his kitty.
It is reported that Rajasthan Royals are also likely to bring in India’s former batting coach Vikram Rathour, who worked closely with Dravid during his coaching stint with the Indian team. Rathour was also part of Dravid’s coaching staff at the NCA in 2019. While Dravid is set to take over Kumar Sangakkara’s position with RR, the Sri Lankan great will continue to work with the franchise in some capacity and will also oversee the sister teams in SA20 and Caribbean Premier League.
Since winning the IPL title in its inaugural edition in 2008, Rajasthan Royals have not been able to secure another title. Their best finish was as runners-up to Gujarat Titans in 2022. With the return of Rahul Dravid as head coach, the franchise will be looking to revive their winning ways and aim for another title in the upcoming IPL season. Dravid’s experience and expertise in coaching, along with his understanding of the team dynamics and players, make him a valuable asset for the Rajasthan Royals as they prepare for the 2025 IPL season. His successful track record with Team India further adds to the optimism surrounding his return to the franchise.
