Former Indian head coach Rahul Dravid is set to make a comeback to the Rajasthan Royals as head coach in the upcoming Indian Premier League 2025. After rejecting multiple requests, Rahul Dravid stepped down as the Indian head coach after a successful T20 World Cup 2024 campaign.
Though BCCI named Gautam Gambhir as the new head coach of the India team, the future of “The Wall” remains a mystery. Right after his tenure with the Indian cricket team comes to an end, he has been linked with multiple franchises in the T20 league.
Earlier he was rumoured to join Kolkata Knight Riders as the current champions are without their mentor Gautam Gambhir who filled the void left by Rahul Dravid in the Indian team.
But a report now states that Rahul is in talks with his former IPL side Rajasthan Royals. Though the right-hander made his IPL debut for RCB, he featured for RR during his T20 career end.
Dravid played for the Rajasthan Royals and led them to the finals of the Champions League T20 in 2013, and the play-offs of the Indian Premier League in 2013.
A source close to the franchise revealed, “Talks are going on between RR and Dravid, and an announcement in this regard is round the corner.”
Rahul Dravid is set to return in IPL!!!!!#IPL2025 #RahulDravid pic.twitter.com/k6umm8wHq3
— Times of Sports (@timesofsports) July 23, 2024
If the report turns out to be true, Rajasthan Royals might seek an incline in their performance in the IPL 2025. If Rahul joins Rajasthan Royals as the head coach, Kumar Sangakkara, the current Director of Cricket for the Royals, will likely focus solely on his directorial duties.
With a mega auction planned for this season, the Rajasthan-based franchise seeks to bring in new faces for the benefit of the team.
If Rahul Dravid’s IPL 2025 signing with Rajasthan Royals is confirmed then it will be his second stint as the coach for a IPL franchise.
The former Indian captain has worked as a mentor and coach for IPL teams in past. Dravid coached Delhi Daredevils(now Delhi Capitals) before leaving the job in 2017 over ‘conflict of interest’. Following his IPL stint, Dravid coached India’s junior teams including Under-19 and India A.
Before joining BCCI as the Indian head coach, Dravid worked as the head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.
