Kumar Sangakkara has been serving as Rajasthan Royals’ Director of Cricket since 2021.
According to ESPN Cricinfo, former Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara is set to return as the head coach of Rajasthan Royals (RR) for IPL 2026. Sangakkara, who has held the role of Director of Cricket for the franchise since 2021, will now step back into the position he previously occupied.
Sangakkara first served as RR’s head coach from IPL 2021 to 2024. During his tenure, the team enjoyed moderate success, reaching the playoffs twice. Under his guidance, the Sanju Samson-led side finished as runners-up in 2022 and competed in Qualifier 2 in the 2024 edition.
One of Sangakkara’s main challenges as head coach in 2026 will be addressing the franchise’s captaincy situation. Samson has reportedly requested to be released ahead of the tournament, while rumors suggest Riyan Parag could assume leadership amid reports of internal management tensions.
Rahul Dravid Steps Down as Rajasthan Royals Head Coach Ahead of IPL 2026
Rahul Dravid, who was appointed head coach of Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2025, has recently parted ways with the franchise. Despite being offered a broader role within the team, Dravid chose not to take it.
According to reports, RR is expected to retain Vikram Rathour as the batting coach for the upcoming season, while Shane Bond is likely to continue as the bowling coach. Additionally, Trevor Penney and Siddhartha Lahiri, who were part of Kumar Sangakkara’s support staff, are set to return.
The IPL 2008 champions struggled last season, winning only four of their 14 matches and losing ten. With just eight points, they finished ninth on the points table.