Dravid Returns To Rajasthan Royals As Head Coach

Rahul Dravid is all set to take over as head coach of the Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2025.

Dravid, who stepped down as India's head coach after the T20I World Cup final on June 29, led RR in IPL 2012 and 2013.

He then served as team mentor for the 2014 and 2015 IPL seasons before taking the same role with the Delhi Capitals till he was appointed director of the National Cricket Academy in 2019.

According to ESPNCricinfo, Dravid recently signed a deal with the 2008 IPL-winning franchise and had initial conversations on player retentions ahead of the coming mega auction.

Dravid will reunite with Sanju Samson, who is likely to be retained as RR captain for another season.

The ESPNCricinfo report said RR are likely to sign Vikram Rathour -- who served as India's batting coach till June 2024, as one of the assistant coaches.

Kumar Sangakkara, the franchise's director of cricket since 2021, has played the role of head coach. Sangakkara will continue with RR and also look after the franchise's teams -- Paarl Royals in the SA20 and Barbados Royals in the CPL.

RR's best finish after winning IPL 2008 was a runner-up position in 2022 when they came second best to Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.