Coach Kumar Sangakkara set to leave Rajasthan Royals, in talks with KKR

Rajasthan Royals are poised to part ways with their coach, Kumar Sangakkara, following the arrival of former Team India head coach, Rahul Dravid, to the camp. The Sri Lankan legend has reportedly decided to leave the 2008 IPL champions.

According to media reports, he is currently in discussions with the defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders, regarding a mentor role ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.

Following Gautam Gambhir's departure from the side, KKR is still seeking a replacement for the mentor position, and Sangakkara appears to be a strong candidate for the role.  

However, even if KKR finalise Sangakkara, they will need to explore additional options for their coaching staff, as former assistant coaches Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate have also departed the three-time champions to join Gambhir’s coaching staff for the Indian national team.

Sangakkara was also rumoured to be in line for the England cricket team’s white-ball coach position but the Three Lions opted for Brendon McCullum, who now oversees all formats for the country.

Here's a look at Sangakkara’s record as Rajasthan Royals' coach

Rajasthan Royals under coach Kumar Sangakkara
Year	Finish	Win percentage
2021	7th place	35.70%
2022	Runner-ups (Lost to Gujarat Titans)	58.80%
2023	5th place	50.00%
2024	3rd place	56.20%

Under the former Sri Lankan skipper’s guidance, Rajasthan Royals performed admirably, reaching the IPL final in 2022, though they ultimately fell to the Gujarat Titans. A third-place finish last year also showcased his team’s resilience and ability to compete with the league’s best.

Sangakkara started off with an under-performing RR side and finished 7th in the 2021 season with a win percentage of 35.70% that year.

Nevertheless, the lack of trophies since the tournament’s inaugural edition has left RR with no choice but to consider alternative options.