Rahul Dravid set to join Rajasthan Royals as head coach for IPL 2025: report

After leading India to victory in the T20 World Cup last month, Rahul Dravid is reportedly set to return to the Indian Premier League (IPL) with the Rajasthan Royals.

According to a media report, Dravid is close to finalizing a deal to become the head coach of the Royals for the upcoming 18th season of the league.

Dravid’s tenure as India's head coach concluded with a triumphant win, marking India’s first T20 World Cup title in 17 years. Shortly after, there were reports that Kolkata Knight Riders, the defending champions, were interested in bringing Dravid into their coaching staff. However, recent updates suggest that Dravid has chosen to join Rajasthan Royals instead.

"Talks are going on between RR and Dravid, an announcement in his regard is round the corner," a source said.

In his final speech as India’s coach, Dravid humorously remarked that he was "unemployed" and open to offers. It now appears that he has secured a position with the Royals, a franchise he has a deep connection with. Dravid joined Rajasthan Royals in 2011 as captain, played for three seasons, and later served as a mentor in 2014 and 2015.

Currently, the Royals do not have a head coach. Kumar Sangakkara, the former Sri Lankan star, has been the Director of Cricket since 2021, with Shane Bond and Trevor Penny as assistant coaches. It is still unclear how Sangakkara's role will be affected by Dravid's appointment.

Rajasthan Royals had a mixed campaign in this year's IPL. They started strong, winning eight of their first nine matches under the leadership of Sanju Samson. However, they struggled in the latter half, winning only one of their last seven league games and finishing third on the points table. They defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Eliminator but lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 2.