Management's captain choice irked coach; reason behind Rahul Dravid leaving Rajasthan Royals

MUMBAI: It seems there is more than what meets the eye behind veteran cricketer Rahul Dravid’s decision to step down from the chief coach position of Rajasthan Royals before the 2026 IPL edition. It is reported that differences of opinion with the franchise management over the new team captain led to his resignation.

When Sanju was injured last season, Parag replaced him as captain. However, reports suggest that Dravid never rooted for the Assam cricketer for the captaincy. Current captain Sanju Samson has informed the team that he will not play for Rajasthan next year. Amidst such a tangle, the team management rooted for Parag to take the baton from Sanju, which Dravid disapproved.

The management's decision to bring in Parag as Sanju's replacement without consulting Dravid during the last IPL season created tensions. This tension turned twofold after the management remained steadfast that Parag replace Sanju as the new captain of the Royals for 2026 season.