Rahul Dravid’s coaching methods brought the Indian cricket team an ICC trophy, which the Men in Blue had been seeking for the past 11 years. After a successful three-year stint with the Indian team, Dravid, who stepped down as the head coach following the 2024 T20 World Cup, is now receiving numerous coaching offers in the IPL. Now, teams like the Mumbai Indians and especially the Rajasthan Royals have shown interest.
The relationship between Rahul Dravid and the Rajasthan Royals is not new. As “The Wall,” Dravid played for the franchise in 52 matches between 2011 and 2013, scoring 1,324 runs. He also served as a mentor for the Rajasthan Royals in 2014.
Now, with rumors circulating about potential changes in the IPL for 2025, including talks between the Rajasthan Royals and Dravid, there is speculation that he could join the franchise. If this is true, it would be a significant advantage for the team, which is seeking its second IPL trophy. Let’s see a few reasons why Rahul Dravid could be the perfect fit for the Rajasthan Royals and how he could change their destiny if he coaches them.
Why Rahul Dravid is good fit as coach for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025
Familiar Camp for Rahul Dravid
As we saw in the past, India’s current coach, Gautam Gambhir, returned to the Kolkata Knight Riders as coach after a decent stint with the Lucknow Super Giants. We witnessed how KKR went on to win the IPL 2024 trophy, and we could see a similar outcome with Rahul Dravid and the Rajasthan Royals. The team is not new to Dravid, having played for the Rajasthan Royals for almost three years and also having coached them.
Although the Rajasthan Royals finished 5th in the IPL during his coaching tenure, his quality coaching skills were evident. Also, Dravid has established relationships with stakeholders and owners, which could be advantageous as he is already familiar with the camp.
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Change in coaching staff is needed for RR in next IPL
It is important to mention that the Rajasthan Royals do not have a head coach at present, they have Kumar Sangakkara serving as the Director of Cricket since 2021.
Also, former New Zealand pacer Shane Bond and former Zimbabwean cricketer Trevor Penny are the assistant coaches. There is no doubt that the franchise needs a head coach. This was evident in IPL 2024, where the team lost momentum after performing well in the first half of the season.
They consistently faltered towards the end and ultimately lost the second qualifier against Sunrisers Hyderabad by 36 runs. The absence of a mentor was clearly felt, and this should not be the case in the next season. To address this need, a coach like Rahul Dravid would not only be a good fit but also meet the current need for RR.
Happy relationship with current captain Sanju Samson
Last but not least, since Rahul Dravid and Sanju Samson have a good relationship and Dravid has frequently praised the young captain, issues such as ego clashes between coaches and captains are unlikely to arise.
Also, Dravid has confirmed that he is not seeking a 12-month coaching role, which will give him the freedom to engage fully with young players such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, and Dhruv Jurel, and train them effectively. Effective management, which is crucial, will be a key aspect of his tenure.
