Rahul Dravid will conclude his tenure as the Rajasthan Royals head coach ahead of the IPL 2026 season, the franchise announced on Saturday.
“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 Royals’ statement reads.
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As part of a recent structural review, the franchise had offered Dravid a broader position, but he opted not to take up the role.
“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.
Dravid first joined Rajasthan Royals in 2011, spending his debut season under the captaincy of Shane Warne before taking charge himself. He captained the side until 2013 and continued as team mentor until 2015.
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After nearly a decade away, he returned as head coach for IPL 2025.
Under Dravid’s leadership, Rajasthan finished third in the IPL 2013 points table and went on to reach the Champions League T20 final the same year.
He captained the team in 40 matches across two seasons, winning 23 – a win percentage of 57.50, the best among Royals skippers with 20 or more games.
Transitioning into mentoring after his playing days, Dravid remained a guiding presence for Rajasthan in 2014 and 2015.
His stint as mentor coincided with the emergence of Sanju Samson and Ajinkya Rahane, along with the remarkable rise of local talent Pravin Tambe, who had no prior top-level experience before making his IPL debut.
Dravid’s second stint with the Royals saw him oversee teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during IPL 2025.
Widely regarded as one of India’s greatest batters, Dravid’s long association with the Royals, both as a player and coach, has played a crucial part in shaping the team’s culture and ethos over the years.
