Rahul Dravid at a press conference before the iPL T20 match against the Lucknow Super Giants at the Sawai Mansingh stadium in Jaipur. (PTI photos) Jaipur: With a large shock in Rajasthan Royals, former Indian captain Rahul Dravid resigned as the head coach before the IPL-2026 season. This surprising move comes only for one year to Dravid’s very heralded return to the franchise and increases the uncertainty surrounding the team after the news that the regular captain Sanja Samson also wants to move on. Royals confirmed on Saturday in an official statement that David will not continue as a head coach, and after all, the unsatisfactory season will shorten the multi -year shop. The 2025 campaign was a disaster for champions 2008 – completed the ninth, with four victories. Poor performance was enhanced by personal challenges for the bird of prey, because he injured his legs suffered in the club match forced him to train from a wheelchair for most of the season.
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David had a long and fertile connection with the franchise. Previously he played and the captain in 2011–2013 and worked as a mentor in 2014 and 2015.Rejected a “wider” role Royals’ decision comes after a “structural review”, after which the predatis was offered a wider and larger role in the franchise. However, cricket legend refused the offer and expressed the desire to move on. Sources said that an inspection meeting with a franchise was held in the UK and was also attended by David. “Rahul has been the central point of the Royals journey for many years.Parag Captaincy to Landing? The decision is governed by rumors of reported disagreement between Royals and Samson’s leadership. The bikes began to be based on a franchise campaign of 2025, when such tensions entered public speculation after some bizarre decisions during the first three games. Since Samson “lacked” full permission to go to the goal after the finger surgery, the management used it only as a “impact sub”, while Assam player Riyan Parag was a stand-in captain, especially for matches in Guwahati, the second home of the franchise. He bounced off movement and pulled out wild criticism from fans and scientists who pointed to Riyan’s own inconsistent performance, especially with established talents such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, too available. Later in the season, rumors about the reported market between Dravid and Samson also emerged, which the former denied that “we are all on the same page”. With the predatory undergrowth second Stint and the captain potentially on the way out, franchise faces monumental reconstruction. Sources say he is now the director of Kiquette Kumar Sangakkar to create a way forward for the team.Is there a chance that Samson would stay? “The decision on Sanja is still considered,” the source added.
