Rajasthan Royals' Coaching Staff 2026 (Sourese: X.com/@GarhManmohan)
Rajasthan Royals (RR), the team that kicked off the IPL with a fairytale win back in 2008, is still hunting for their second title. They’ve had some ups and downs, but let’s admit it – they’ve always been one of the smartest teams when it comes to strategy.
The Royals are cooking up something big for IPL 2026. They have brought back none other than Kumar Sangakkara as their Head Coach and the Director of Cricket.
If there’s anyone who can bring the trophy back to Jaipur, it’s legends like him.
Let’s dig into the RR’s coaching staff for IPL 2026 and their history:
RR’s Coaching Staff 2026
Head Coach and Director of Cricket
Kumar Sangakkara: 2026 - Present
Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara takes the dual role of the Head Coach and Director of Cricket of the Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2026. Sangakkara previously served as head coach from 2021 to 2024, overseeing a period of renewed competitiveness.
Under his leadership, RR reached the IPL 2022 final and returned to the playoffs in 2024, re-establishing consistency that the side failed to replicate in 2025.
Having already been part of the RR family as a player and mentor, the legend knows the Royals inside out. Now, his mission will be to continue the magic once again and bring that second IPL trophy home.
Assistant Coaches
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Batting Coach | Vikram Rathour |
| Assisstant and Fast Bowling Coach | Shane Bond |
| Fielding Coach | Dishant Yagnik |
Support Staff
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Head Physiotherapist | John Gloster |
| Strength & Conditioning | Vihaan Murali; Varun Ghosh |
| Senior Physiotherapist | Craig Antony |
| Assistant Physiotherapist | Niranjan Pandit |
| Head of Athletic Performance | Michael Italiano |
| Mental Performance Coach | Aaron Walsh |
| Director of Analytics & Technology | Giles Lindsay |
| Lead Analyst | Panish Shetty |
| Team Manager & High-performance | Romi Bhinder |
| Support Coach (RR Academy) | Support Coach (RR Academy) |
Evolution of Coaching Staff Over the Years
| Year | Head Coach |
|---|---|
| 2008-2012 | Shane Warne |
| 2013-2015, 2019 | Paddy Upton |
| 2020 | Andrew McDonald |
| 2021-2024 | Kumar Sangakkara |
| 2025 | Rahul Dravid |
| 2026-present | Kumar Sangakkara |
FAQs: RR’s Coaching Staff
Q.1. Who is the present coach of RR?
Answer: Kumar Sangakkara is the head coach of the Rajasthan Royals, taking over after Rahul Dravid's departure in late 2025.
Q.2. Who are the assistant coaches?
Answer: The assistant coaching staff includes: Vikram Rathour (Batting Coach), Shane Bond (Fast Bowling Coach), Dishant Yagnik (Fielding Coach) and Trevor Penney (Assistant Coach).
Q.4. Why has Sanju Samson left RR?
Answer: Sanju Samson's journey with the Rajasthan Royals came to an end as the Chennai Super Kings officially signed the wicket-keeper batter in a trade that saw Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran going the other way.
Q.5. Who is the CEO of RR?
Answer: The position of CEO for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) is currently vacant, as Jake Lush McCrum, who served as CEO, left the franchise in September 2025.
