A surprising decision made before the IPL 2026 season. The team confirmed his departure, explaining that while he was offered a more strategic role as part of a recent change in the team’s structure, Rahul Dravid chose not to take it.
Rahul Dravid has a long history with the Royals.
He played for them from 2011 to 2013, captained the team during that time, and then acted as a mentor from 2014 to 2015. In early 2025, after leading the Indian team to win the T20 World Cup, he was hired as the head coach under a multi-year contract. His return was seen as a way to bring new energy and direction to the team. But the 2025 season didn’t go well for the Royals.
They only won four games out of 14, finishing ninth in the league and missing out on the playoffs. This poor performance put pressure on the team to rethink their coaching and leadership structure.
As part of a restructuring effort, the franchise proposed a more strategic, less hands-on role for Dravid.
The team highlighted the positive impact he had on the team’s culture and leadership. However, Dravid turned down the offer, which led to his exit.
Behind the scenes, there are reports of some tension.
Some sources suggest that there were disagreements over captaincy and leadership choices. The team is pushing to develop Riyan Parag as a future captain, which some feel could be at the expense of experienced players like Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal. This shift clashed with Dravid’s belief in leadership based on performance rather than brand image.
Further speculation came from former Royals player AB de Villiers, who said Dravid’s exit “looked like he was kicked out.”
This suggests that Dravid’s decision to not take the new role might not have been entirely of his own volition.
Despite the rumors, both the franchise and Dravid have handled the situation with respect.
The Royals issued a heartfelt statement thanking Dravid for his contributions, and there was no public argument from him.
With the head coach position now open, the Royals have a big off-season ahead.
Decisions about who will take over as coach and captain will be important for the team’s future and how they plan to compete in IPL 2026.
