Rajasthan Royals (RR) lead owner Manoj Badale has opened up about key matters regarding the franchise ahead of the IPL 2026 season. Badale backed Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara’s promotion to head coach after his stint as director of cricket and also denied speculation about the sale of the franchise.
The Rajasthan Royals have appointed Kumar Sangakkara as their head coach. He will work in a dual role as head coach and director of cricket. Rahul Dravid resigned from his position after a disastrous 2025 season. The Jaipur-based franchise managed to secure just four wins in 14 matches, finishing ninth in the points table.
Manoj Badale said the decision to appoint Kumar Sangakkara was aimed at “simplification” and not a judgment on Rahul Dravid’s performance. He described the call as difficult. Badale also called Dravid one of India’s finest coaches.
“It was a tough decision. It’s not a new coach; Kumar has coached us before. It was really about simplification. There’s no judgment on Rahul, I think he remains possibly one of the greatest coaches in India. So yes, it was tough, but it was a decision, and it’s been made."
Dravid worked for the Royals despite battling a knee injury that forced him to use crutches throughout the season. Although the franchise later proposed an expanded role for him, Dravid decided against it and opted to step away from his position as head coach.
It’s Been on for 17 Years, Nothing New There - Manoj Badale
Manoj Badale dismissed speculation about the Rajasthan Royals being put up for sale, saying such talk has surfaced repeatedly over the years and holds no truth. He called it routine rumours and not a real development.
“It’s been on for 17 years, nothing new there,” Badale said, clarifying that it is just an assumption.
The franchise made bold decisions in the squad ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. One of the biggest moves was trading long-time captain Sanju Samson to the Chennai Super Kings. However, Rajasthan received Sam Curran and Ravindra Jadeja in return before the mini-auction.
Rajasthan Royals Sign Nine Players at IPL 2026 Auction
Rajasthan Royals signed nine players at the IPL 2026 auction in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, December 16. They entered the auction with INR 16.05 crore in their purse and nine slots to fill, including one overseas position.
The Royals signed Indian spinner Ravi Bishnoi for INR 7.4 crore after an intense bidding war with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) to strengthen their bowling attack.
Rajasthan added uncapped players Sushant Mishra, Vignesh Puthur, and Yash Raj Punja. They later went head-to-head with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to secure another uncapped player, Ravi Singh.
They also signed Aman Rao, Brijesh Sharma, and Kuldeep Sen to add depth to the squad. Their only overseas purchase came in the accelerated round, where they picked New Zealand fast bowler Adam Milne.
Also read: Yashasvi Jaiswal health scare: Star opener hospitalized hours after match, panic grips Indian cricket
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