IPL 2025: Not Delhi Capitals, Rahul Dravid Set To Return to Rajasthan Royals as Head Coach - Report

Former India T20 World Cup-winning head coach Rahul Dravid is reportedly close to landing his next job as links of a return to role in one of the teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL) picks up pace.

After his tenure in the Indian cricket team ended in June, reports claimed the former India captain has held talks with several IPL teams as some outlets even claimed Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders could be the most possible destinations.

KKR, the defending champions, reportedly wanted Dravid to replace out-going Gautam Gambhir as the mentor of the team after the latter took over the head coach role of the Indian team.

Meanwhile, DC was also on the look out for a head coach after former Australia captain Ricky Ponting parted ways with the franchise earlier this month. Sourav Ganguly, the director of cricket at DC, had hinted that the franchise will hire an Indian as the next head coach.

However, a report from Times of India on Tuesday (July 23) has suggested that the 51-year-old is very close to completing his return to Rajasthan Royals, where he earlier had stints as a player and then the mentor.

In fact, Dravid served as the mentor for the inaugural champions before taking over the coaching roles for the national team, initially overseeing the under-19 and A teams followed by the head coach role for the senior men's team in 2019.

According to a report in TOI, Rajasthan Royals and Dravid are in talks over his return to the franchise, and an announcement on his appointment as the head coach is not far away.

"Talks are going on between RR and Dravid, and an announcement in this regard is round the corner," TOI quoted a reliable source as saying to them in the report.

If Dravid does come in as head of Rajasthan Royals, Kumar Sangakkara, who is currently serving in a dual role, is likely to continue in his position as just the Director or Cricket.

The former India head coach, who is set to return to the franchise after 9 years, is likely to plan for the upcoming IPL 2025 Mega Auction along with Sangakkara and the other RR stakeholders.

Dravid has previously served as a mentor for Rajasthan Royals between 2014 and 2015, as well as the Delhi Capitals in 2016. He has also served as head coach for the India U-19 and A teams.

The 51-year-old, who had a 16-year playing career, has played a key role in nurturing talent from the U-19 and A teams with Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan and Washington Sundar being some of the examples.