Rahul Dravid resigns as Rajasthan Royals head coach ahead of IPL 2026

Rahul Dravid has resigned from his position as the head coach of Rajasthan Royals ahead of the 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League. He will no longer continue to hold any position with the franchise, whom he has represented as both player and coach.

“Rajasthan Royals announced that Head Coach Rahul Dravid will conclude his tenure with the franchise ahead of IPL 2026,” the franchise posted in a statement on their official social media handle on Saturday, August 30.

“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,” the statement read further.

The Indore-born had joined forces with the 2008 champions following the relief of his duties as India Men’s head coach after the conclusion of the 2024 T20 World Cup. He had previously held positions as the mentor of the franchise during the 2014 and 2015 seasons of the cash-rich tournament, and enjoyed another year with his return as head coach for the 2025 edition.

The Karnataka batter has also represented the franchise as a player and as captain during his stint with the side between 2011 and 2013. He has played a total of 46 matches in the IPL for the franchise, scoring 1276 runs at an average of 29.00, including seven half-centuries. Under his captaincy, the Jaipur-based franchise also qualified for the finals of the Champions League T20 in the 2013 season.

With him now gone, the franchise will have to at their options sooner, as the mini auction for the next season is not too far away.

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