Rahul Dravid’s coaching journey has deep roots in the Indian Premier League (IPL), specifically with Rajasthan Royals — the franchise where he transitioned from player to mentor to head coach.
Dravid joined the Rajasthan Royals in 2011, playing his first season under the legendary Shane Warne. He then led the team as captain from 2012 to 2013, and later served as mentor until 2015. After nearly a decade away, he returned to the Royals as head coach following IPL 2024.
In a recent podcast with former Royals teammate Ravichandran Ashwin, Dravid opened up about how his time with the Jaipur-based franchise shaped his leadership philosophy and laid the groundwork for his future coaching roles.
From captain to coach: Dravid’s transition began at Royals
“I was actually quite lucky because I was playing for Rajasthan Royals at that point of time,” said Dravid, reflecting on his early coaching experiences. “After Shane Warne left (after IPL 2011), I was playing the role of a coach-captain. The captain led the team and did a lot of the things around it, and I just continued in that role over the next couple of years.”
Under Dravid’s leadership, Rajasthan Royals finished third in the IPL 2013 points table and went on to reach the Champions League T20 final the same year.
Across two seasons as captain, Dravid led the side in 40 matches, winning 23 — the highest winning percentage (57.50%) among all Royals captains with at least 20 matches.
Building a culture of trust and youth development
As a mentor in 2014 and 2015, Dravid focused on developing young talent and creating a team culture where players could thrive without fear.
“You had to lead, do the auction, and understand the dynamics of the finances,” he said. “In many ways, I was lucky to get that opportunity at the back end of my career. It gave me a sense of what coaching and working with young players would be like.”
Dravid’s influence helped shape the careers of now-established names like Sanju Samson, Ajinkya Rahane, and Pravin Tambe — the latter making his professional debut with the Royals despite never playing top-level cricket before.
From IPL to international success
Following his time with Rajasthan Royals, Dravid went on to coach India’s U19 team to the World Cup final in 2016 and a title win in 2018. His methodical, developmental approach became a blueprint for India’s youth pipeline.
In 2021, Dravid was appointed head coach of the Indian senior men’s team. During his tenure, India reached the World Test Championship final in 2023, dominated the 2023 ODI World Cup before narrowly missing out in the final, and ultimately lifted the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2024 — Dravid’s final assignment as national coach.
From a leadership trial with Rajasthan Royals to guiding India to global success, Dravid’s coaching philosophy was forged during his formative IPL years — years that continue to shape Indian cricket’s future.
Never miss an update on Rajasthan Royals — read the latest stories here.
