Since 2021, Kumar Sangakkara, a former captain of Sri Lanka, has been the Director of Cricket for the Rajasthan Royals (RR). But until the tournament’s 2024 edition, he also served as the team’s head coach. Following Rahul Dravid’s appointment as head coach for the IPL 2025, Sangakkara’s duties were scaled back.
In the 2012 and 2013 IPLs, Dravid captained RR. In the two editions that followed, he also acted as their mentor. The Royals had a terrible IPL 2025 season, winning only four of their 14 games. On the points table, they came in eighth. After the tournament, Dravid left the team because he didn’t want to take on a more expansive role. The 52-year-old signed a multi-year contract with the first-ever champions after leading India to the 2024 T20 World Cup championship. But his association came to an abrupt end.
Sangakkara may rejoin to lead the coaching staff prior to the 2026 Indian Premier League, according to ESPNcricinfo. It is now unclear if he will return to his position as head coach.
Sangakkara will have his hands full if he does take on a more significant role in the franchise since he will need to choose the best person to replace Sanju Samson. Since 2021, the Kerala batsman-wicketkeeper has been the team’s captain. He is reportedly seeking a change, though, before the 2026 Indian Premier League.
It appears that the Royals have discussed the possibility of moving the 30-year-old with a few teams. The Pulluvila native is still a member of the Rajasthan-based team, though. Prior to the massive auction last year, the Royals kept six players, including Samson. A staggering INR 18 crore was paid for his services. But he fell short of his ambitions, missing five games because of injuries.
Since their victory in the inaugural season in 2008, Sangakkara was the first coach to lead Rajasthan to the IPL finals.
Rajasthan advanced to the IPL 2022 final under Samson’s captaincy, however the Gujarat Titans, who were making their debut, defeated them. RR qualified for the playoffs twice in four seasons under Sangakkara’s first tenure as head coach. He is anticipated to be crucial to the franchise’s 2026 comeback prospects.
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