Kumar Sangakkara Returns as Rajasthan Royals Head Coach for IPL 2026

Kumar Sangakkara is back at the helm of Rajasthan Royals, with the franchise confirming on Monday that he will resume duties as Head Coach for IPL 2026 while also continuing in his long-held role as Director of Cricket. The move marks a return to familiar territory for the former Sri Lankan captain, who previously coached the side from 2021 to 2024.

Sangakkara’s earlier tenure delivered some of the team’s strongest performances in recent seasons. Rajasthan reached the IPL final in 2022 under his leadership and made another deep run by qualifying for the playoffs in 2024. His return follows a one-season coaching stint by Rahul Dravid, who guided the team through IPL 2025 before stepping aside.

Manoj Badale, Lead Owner of the franchise, said Sangakkara’s re-appointment comes at an important stage for the Royals as they look to re-establish continuity ahead of the next cycle. “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,” Badale said.

He stressed that Sangakkara’s qualities have long made him a central figure in shaping the team’s philosophy. “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,” he added.

The Royals have paired Sangakkara’s return with adjustments to their support staff. Vikram Rathore has been promoted to the role of Lead Assistant Coach, expanding his responsibilities within the setup. Shane Bond continues in his position as Bowling Coach, maintaining the stability of the franchise’s pace-development structure. Trevor Penney and Sid Lahiri also retain their posts as Assistant Coach and Performance Coach respectively, ensuring the broader coaching group remains largely intact.

The combination of Sangakkara’s leadership, Rathore’s elevated role and Bond’s continued oversight of the bowling unit sets the stage for a cohesive build-up to IPL 2026. The franchise appears intent on blending continuity with strategic reinforcement, drawing from personnel who already understand the environment and expectations inside the Royals camp.

For the players, Sangakkara’s return is likely to bring back a familiar approach built on tactical discipline and clear communication — traits that shaped the team’s recent successes. With the focus now shifting towards squad planning and pre-season preparations, Rajasthan step into the new campaign with a coaching group they believe can stabilise and elevate the side once again.