Kumar Sangakkara: Once again, Kumar Sangakkara has been appointed as the head coach of Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2026. The official announcement of him becoming the head coach was made on the social media account of the franchise on November 17, Monday.
Before Rahul Dravid took the role of head coach for IPL 2025, Sangakkara was the head coach from 2021 to 2024. Under Sangakkara, the franchise played the IPL 2022 final against the Gujarat Titans and even reached the playoffs in IPL 2024.
Kumar Sangakkara Bring The Right Balance”: Manoj Badle
Talking about Sangakkara’s comeback as Rajasthan Royals head coach, Manoj Badle, who is the lead owner of the franchise, said,
“We are delighted to have Kumar return as Head Coach. As we looked at what the team needed at this stage, we felt that his familiarity within the squad, his leadership, and his deep understanding of the Royals’ culture would bring the right balance of continuity and stability. Kumar has always had our complete trust as a leader. His clarity, calmness, and cricketing intelligence will play an important role in guiding the squad into this next phase.”
Meanwhile, Vikram Rathore has been associated with the position of lead assistant coach, while Shane Bond will continue to remain as the bowling coach of the team. Trevor Penney and Sid Lahiri also made their return as the assistant coach and performance coach, respectively.
Kumar Sangakkara Opens Up On Excitement After Becoming RR Head Coach
Sangakkara also expressed his excitement after resuming the role. He said,
“I’m honored to return as head coach and continue working with this talented group. I’m also pleased to have a strong coaching team alongside me. Vikram, Trevor, Shane, and Sid each bring valuable experience. We have a clear understanding of where we want to go as a group, and our aim is to build a team that plays with clarity, resilience, and purpose.”
Also Read: Cheteshwar Pujara Criticizes Eden Gardens Pitch After India’s Defeat To South Africa In 1st Test
