Jaipur: In a major shake-up at Rajasthan Royals, former India captain Rahul Dravid has stepped down as head coach ahead of the IPL-2026 season. This surprise move comes just one year into Dravid’s much-heralded return to the franchise and adds to the uncertainty surrounding the team following reports that regular captain Sanju Samson too wants to move on. Royals confirmed in an official statement on Saturday that Dravid would not carry on as head coach, cutting short a multi-year deal after just a single, disappointing season. The 2025 campaign was a disaster for the 2008 champions — they finished a dismal ninth, with only four wins. The poor performance was compounded by personal challenges for Dravid, as a foot injury sustained in a club match forced him to coach from a wheelchair for much of the season. Dravid has had a long and fruitful association with the franchise. Before this, he played and captained from 2011-2013 and served as mentor in 2014 and 2015.Refused ‘broader’ role The Royals’ decision comes after a ‘structural review’, following which Dravid was offered a broader, more expansive role within the franchise. However, the cricket legend turned down the offer and expressed a desire to move on. Sources told TOI the franchise’s review meeting was held last month in the UK and was also attended by Dravid. “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 read.Parag captaincy the sticking point? The decision follows rumours of reported discord between the Royals management and skipper Samson. The wheels started to come off the franchise’s 2025 campaign when such tensions entered the realm of public speculation following some bizarre decisions during the first three games. Because Samson ‘lacked’ full clearance for wicketkeeping duties after a finger surgery, the management used him only as an ‘impact sub’ while Assam player Riyan Parag was made stand-in captain, particularly for matches in Guwahati, the franchise’s second ‘home’. The move backfired and drew fierce criticism from fans and pundits alike, who pointed to Riyan’s own inconsistent performances, especially with the likes of established talents like Yashasvi Jaiswal too available to lead. Later on in the season, rumours of a reported rift between Dravid and Samson also surfaced, which the former denied saying “we are all on the same page”. With Dravid’s storied second stint now over and the captain potentially on his way out, the franchise is faced with a monumental rebuilding task. Sources say the onus is now on director of cricket Kumar Sangakkara to forge a path forward for the team.Is there a chance Samson might stay? “The decision on Sanju is still under consideration,” the source added.
