Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara is set to take charge of Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) coaching setup following Rahul Dravid’s exit as head coach. According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, Sangakkara – who has been RR’s Director of Cricket since 2021 – has already started informal planning for the IPL 2026 season.
Since joining the Royals, Sangakkara has doubled up as head coach, guiding the Sanju Samson-led side to two playoff appearances in four seasons. In IPL 2022, RR reached the final for the first time since their 2008 title triumph, only to lose to Gujarat Titans. After finishing fifth in 2023, the Royals bounced back to make the 2024 playoffs, bowing out in Qualifier 2.
Dravid, who previously captained RR in 2012–2013 and served as mentor in 2014–2015, was hired as head coach in 2024 immediately after winning the T20 World Cup with India. Despite signing a multi-year contract, his stint ended after a poor 2025 season, where RR won just 4 of 14 matches. The franchise later said Dravid was offered a “broader position,” but he chose not to continue.
A major task for Sangakkara will be addressing the captaincy situation. Skipper Sanju Samson, retained for a massive ₹18 crore, has requested a release after missing part of the 2025 season due to injury. Although RR explored trade deals, no agreement has been reached.
Meanwhile, RR are expected to continue with Vikram Rathour as assistant coach and Shane Bond as bowling coach. Bond joined from Mumbai Indians in 2024, while Rathour earlier served as India’s batting coach. Former staff members Trevor Penney and Siddhartha Lahiri are also likely to return.
With Sangakkara at the helm, Rajasthan Royals will aim for a strong revival in IPL 2026.
(Tamil Craze)
