Rahul Dravid Set to Return to Rajasthan Royals as Head Coach Ahead of IPL 2025

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In a significant development ahead of the 2025 IPL season, Rahul Dravid is poised to rejoin the Rajasthan Royals (RR) as their head coach. This move comes on the heels of his successful stint as the head coach of the Indian national team, which culminated with India's triumph at the 2024 T20 World Cup in June.

Dravid, who has a storied history with RR, is set to take on a central role as the head coach following his departure from the Indian team.

As reported by ESPN Cricinfo, he recently finalized a deal with the franchise and has already begun discussions concerning player retentions in preparation for the upcoming mega auction. Dravid's connection with RR extends back to his previous roles with the franchise.

He captained the team during the 2012 and 2013 IPL seasons and also served as the team director and mentor in the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

After his tenure with RR, Dravid moved to the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in 2016, and later took on the role of head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru in 2019.

His coaching career with the Indian team, which began in 2021, was marked by notable success, including leading the team to their first ICC title in over a decade.
Other Key Developments

Alongside Dravid's appointment, Rajasthan Royals are expected to bolster their coaching staff with the addition of Vikram Rathour. Rathour, a former Indian cricketer and selector, is anticipated to join RR as one of Dravid's assistant coaches.

Rathour has previously worked with Dravid at the NCA, where he was part of the coaching staff before his tenure as India's batting coach from 2019.

In another noteworthy development, Kumar Sangakkara, who has been with Rajasthan Royals as their director of cricket since 2021, will continue in his role.

Sangakkara will oversee the franchise's operations in other leagues, including Paarl Royals in the SA20 and Barbados Royals in the CPL, while Dravid focuses on the IPL campaign. This strategic distribution of roles is aimed at ensuring the franchise's sustained success across different cricketing platforms.

Despite Rajasthan Royals' notable performances, including a runners-up finish in 2022, the team has not secured an IPL title since their inaugural win in 2008.

Their campaign in 2023 saw them fall short of the playoffs, finishing fifth, but they made it to Qualifier 2 in 2024. The return of Rahul Dravid is anticipated to bring a fresh perspective and renewed vigor to the team as they strive to clinch their second IPL title.

With these changes, Rajasthan Royals are setting the stage for an exciting season, leveraging Dravid's vast experience and expertise to enhance their competitive edge.