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October 7, 2024
Rahul Dravid has been appointed as the new head coach of Rajasthan Royals ahead of the IPL 2025 season. The franchise announced that Dravid will take on his new role immediately, focusing on preparations for the season and the upcoming mega auction. This marks Dravid’s return to the Royals after nearly a decade. He previously captained the team in 2012 and 2013 and served as their mentor and Director of Cricket in 2014 and 2015. After his time with the Royals, Dravid spent four seasons as head coach of Delhi Capitals before moving on to coach India U19. Most recently, he led India to victory in the T20 World Cup in July.
“Royals Sports Group-owned franchise Rajasthan Royals today announced the appointment of former Indian captain and coach Rahul Dravid as Head Coach on a multi-year contract,” said a statement from the franchise. Former Rajasthan Royals captain and coach Rahul Dravid is returning to the franchise after previously spending five seasons with the team from 2011 to 2015. Dravid will start working with the team immediately, collaborating closely with Royals’ Director of Cricket, Kumar Sangakkara, to shape the franchise’s overall cricketing strategy.
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Dravid recently concluded his tenure as India’s head coach on a high note, leading the team to victory in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, defeating South Africa by seven runs in the final. During his playing years with the Royals (2011-2013), he scored 1,276 runs in 46 matches, averaging 29.67, with a top score of 66 and seven fifties. A legendary figure in Indian cricket, Dravid began his coaching career with the Royals in 2014, transitioning from captain to mentor. Over the years, he has held key roles at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and coached India’s U19 and senior teams, leading them to top rankings across formats and the recent T20 World Cup triumph.
Welcoming Dravid back to the Royals Family, Jake Lush McCrum, Chief Executive Officer, Royals Sports Group, said, “We are delighted to be bringing Rahul back to the franchise. His exceptional coaching capabilities are evident with the transformation he has driven in Indian cricket. He also has a deep connection to the franchise, and we have seen that passion come through in all our conversations. His expertise of getting the best out of both younger and experienced talent, along with the values with which he operates, align seamlessly with our franchise, and just a quick skim of social media tells me the fans will be excited to see him back with us.”
“Rahul has already got to work with Kumar (Sangakkara) and the rest of the team, as we prepare for this exciting new period for the franchise starting with IPL retention and the auction just around the corner,” added Jake Lush McCrum.
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Expressing his thoughts upon his return to the Royals, Rahul Dravid said, “I am pleased to be returning to the franchise I have called ‘home’ for a number of years in the past. After the World Cup, I feel it is the ideal time for me to take on another challenge, and the Royals is the perfect place to do that. A lot of hard work and deliberations from Manoj, Jake, Kumar, and the team have gone into the progression that the franchise has made over the past few years. It’s an exciting opportunity for us to take this team to the next level given the kind of talent and resources we have at our disposal, and I am looking forward to getting started.”
Manoj Badale, Lead Owner, Rajasthan Royals, also welcomed Dravid to the franchise. He said, “Rahul has a long and deep history with the Royals. It is where he started his coaching journey. We are delighted to be bringing him back to the franchise. Rahul Dravid has few parallels in global sport, both for what he has achieved as a former player and a coach, but also for what he represents as a human being.”
“We have made fantastic progress in our on-field performance over the past few years, but there is still lots to learn, improve and grow. His return will, hopefully, further accelerate our progress and will be a great boost for everyone involved, most importantly our players and our fans,” Badale added.
Royals’ Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara, who assumed the role of Head Coach for the past four seasons, welcomed Dravid to the franchise, saying, “Rahul is one of the greatest players to have played the game, but what he has achieved over the past decade as a coach is extraordinary. The characteristics that he possesses as a coach to nurture talent but also enable them to consistently perform at the highest level, will allow the Rajasthan Royals to further challenge for the title. I have already had some meaningful conversations with him about his vision for this team, and he is looking forward to delivering the results for the Royals.”
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