Did Rajasthan Royals’ treatment of Sanju Samson force Rahul Dravid out? Know here

Former India coach Rahul Dravid has stepped down as Rajasthan Royals head coach ahead of IPL 2026 — barely a year after returning to the franchise on a multi-year deal following his successful stint with Team India that included a T20 World Cup win.

While the Royals termed his departure a “personal decision” and even offered him a bigger role, reports suggest deeper issues within the camp. According to Cricbuzz, Dravid grew frustrated over conflicting voices on the Royals’ captaincy succession plan.

The rift reportedly centered on Riyan Parag, who stood in as captain during Sanju Samson’s injury in IPL 2025. While one camp backed Parag as the future leader, another wanted Yashasvi Jaiswal, and a third group insisted on retaining Sanju Samson. Dravid, insiders say, was unconvinced by the direction of this transition.

Adding to the drama, longtime skipper Sanju Samson is also expected to leave the franchise, having asked to be released before IPL 2026. Dravid, who has mentored Samson for years, was reportedly upset with how the management was handling the shift in leadership.

Dravid exits after a disappointing IPL 2025 campaign, where the Royals finished ninth. He has yet to make a public statement about his decision.

Dravid formally stepped down from his role as Rajasthan Royals head coach on August 30, 2025, marking the end of a brief return to the franchise. The announcement came in the wake of a dismal IPL 2025 campaign, where the Royals languished at ninth place with only four wins from 14 matches. Despite being offered a “broader” strategic role during a structural review of the club, Dravid elected to decline the offer and exit the setup entirely