Legendary cricketer Rahul Dravid has parted ways with Rajasthan Royals, the IPL franchise confirmed on August 30, 2025. Dravid, who joined the Royals as head coach after completing his tenure with the Indian men’s team, endured a tough first season. Under his guidance, the franchise finished ninth in IPL 2025, winning only four of their 14 matches.
AB de Villiers Reacts
Reacting to Dravid’s exit, former South African star AB de Villiers made an explosive claim on his show 360 LIVE. He suggested that Dravid was “sort of kicked out” by the franchise after reportedly turning down a broader role offered by the management.
“It sounds to me like it was an owner or management call. They gave him an option for a broader role, but he turned it down. Maybe he wanted to stay in the dugout, maybe he was upset. But to me, it feels like he was kicked out, which is never ideal,” De Villiers said.
Pressure of Results
Drawing parallels with football’s Premier League, ABD highlighted the intense pressure on coaches across sports.
“Like in football, managers and coaches are always under huge pressure to perform and win trophies. Once results don’t come, owners step in. Maybe Rajasthan just want to shake things up and move in a new direction,” he explained.
What Lies Ahead?
While the Royals are yet to announce Dravid’s replacement, De Villiers stressed that the former India captain leaves behind “big shoes to fill.” With the next IPL season months away, it remains to be seen how the Royals restructure their coaching setup after this high-profile exit.
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