The Rajasthan Royals confirmed that Rahul Dravid will not continue as their head coach for the next season. His exit comes after just one year into his return to the franchise.
The decision came after a tough season, where Royals finished ninth on the points table, winning only four out of 14 matches.
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How was Dravid’s second stint with Rajasthan Royals?
The former India captain had previously been part of the Royals family between 2011 and 2015 as both player and coach.
His comeback last year was seen as a big move, especially after he guided India to a T20 World Cup victory in 2024.
But this time, the results did not go his way. Apart from the team’s poor finish, Dravid himself had injury struggles and was forced to manage most of the season from a wheelchair.
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With Sanju Samson’s future also uncertain and Kumar Sangakkara’s role under review, Royals appear to be in the middle of a big transition.
Which IPL teams could target Rahul Dravid now?
Once news broke of his exit, reports suggested that several franchises are already keeping an eye on Dravid.
Looking at the current scenario, two franchises that seem the most likely are Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
KKR ended the 2025 season just above Rajasthan, finishing eighth with only five wins. They had parted ways with head coach Chandrakant Pandit earlier, and the head coach position is still vacant.
Since KKR is known to give their coach more power in planning and strategy, Dravid could be a natural fit.
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Lucknow also had a disappointing 2025 campaign, winning only six matches. Justin Langer was their head coach, but his future is said to be under review. Reports also suggest that mentor Zaheer Khan might not continue either.
Franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka has already shown a willingness to make bold decisions in the past, and Dravid’s name might well be on the shortlist if LSG decide to make changes.