Sangakkara Back as RR Head Coach

Rajasthan Royals have officially announced that Kumar Sangakkara is returning as the Head Coach ahead of IPL 2026, while continuing his role as the Director of Cricket. Sangakkara previously served as RR’s head coach from 2021 to 2024, during which the team reached the IPL 2022 final and also made the IPL 2024 playoffs. After Rahul Dravid took over the head coach role for IPL 2025, the team has now decided to bring Sangakkara back for stability and continuity.

RR Lead Owner Manoj Badale said that Sangakkara’s familiarity with the squad, calm leadership, and strong understanding of the Royals’ culture make him the perfect choice for this next phase. He added that Sangakkara’s cricketing intelligence and composed approach will be crucial for guiding the team forward. Meanwhile, Vikram Rathore has been promoted as the Lead Assistant Coach, while Shane Bond continues as the Bowling Coach. Trevor Penney and Sid Lahiri also return as Assistant Coach and Performance Coach respectively.