Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara is set to return as Rajasthan Royals' (RR) head coach following the recent exit of Rahul Dravid from the helm, as per a report by ESPNcricinfo. Reportedly Sangakkara, who has been RR's Director of Cricket since 2021, is solidifying this position with the franchise and has already begun informal planning for the 2026 season.
Sangakkara to replace Dravid as RR's head coach
Since joining RR in 2021, Sangakkara has effectively doubled as the head coach. Under his helm, the Rajasthan-based franchise reached the playoffs twice in four seasons. In 2022, RR made it to the final—their first appearance since winning the inaugural IPL season in 2008—though they lost to the Gujarat Titans. After finishing fifth in 2023, the team returned to the playoffs in the following season, where their run ended with a loss in Qualifier 2. Dravid, who previously served RR as captain (2012-2013) and mentor (2014-2015), was hired as the franchise's head coach immediately after leading India to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Sangakkara's primary focus upon his return will be resolving the delicate issue of the Rajasthan Royals captaincy, following Sanju Samson's request to be released by the franchise after the 2025 season. This situation is further complicated by the fact that Samson was limited to playing only nine games in the last edition due to a side strain sustained early in the season.
Despite these structural changes, the immediate priority for Sangakkara and the team management ahead of the upcoming auction will be resolving the potential captaincy choice and effectively regrouping the squad. Although RR boast notable young talent—including Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, and Dhruv Jurel—the team struggled in the tournament last year. Sangakkara will undoubtedly be eager to steer the side back onto a winning track.
Regarding the rest of the support staff, RR is reportedly set to retain Vikram Rathour as the assistant coach, and former New Zealand pacer Shane Bond will continue in his role as the bowling coach. Furthermore, it is understood that Trevor Penney and Siddhartha Lahiri, both of whom were part of Sangakkara’s support staff during his previous tenure at RR, are also expected to return to the team.