(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Rajasthan Royals are set to bring back Kumar Sangakkara as their head coach. He steps in after Rahul Dravid left the franchise following a tough 2025 IPL season. Sangakkara, who has served as RR’s Director of Cricket since 2021, will now lead the entire coaching team, focusing on strategy and player growth, reports ESPNcricinfo.
Sangakkara already handled head coaching duties alongside his director role during his time with RR. The team, led by Sanju Samson, reached the IPL playoffs twice in four seasons under his guidance. Their highlight came in 2022, when they made it to the final for the first time since winning the inaugural IPL title in 2008. That year, they fell short against Gujarat Titans.
The Royals saw ups and downs recently. They finished fifth in 2023, then bounced back to the playoffs in 2024, only to lose in Qualifier 2. Dravid took over as head coach right after India’s victorious 2024 T20 World Cup run. He knows RR well—he captained the side in 2012 and 2013, and mentored them from 2014 to 2015.
Dravid had inked a multi-year deal, but his time ended quickly. RR’s 2025 season was rough, with just four wins in 14 games. In an August statement, the franchise explained that a review led to offering Dravid a bigger role, but he declined and moved on.
Sangakkara won’t go it alone. He’ll have support from familiar names like assistant coach Vikram Rathour and bowling coach Shane Bond. Top on his list? Sorting out the captaincy. Sanju Samson has asked to leave RR ahead of the IPL 2026 auction.
The 30-year-old wicketkeeper-batter told RR management his decision right after the 2025 season wrapped up, per ESPNcricinfo. Samson first played for the Royals from 2013 to 2015. He returned in 2018 after stints with Delhi Daredevils and took the captaincy in 2021. Under him, RR hit that 2022 final.
Still, the team shook things up before the 2025 mega auction. They let go of star players Jos Buttler and Yuzvendra Chahal, even though both grabbed the Orange and Purple Caps in 2022. Samson stayed on as one of six retained players, with a hefty Rs 18 crore price tag. As RR eyes a fresh start for IPL 2026, Sangakkara’s return could spark some excitement for fans.
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