Why did Rahul Dravid leave Rajasthan Royals?

Mohammad Kaif suggests a major internal disagreement between key figures like Dravid, Sangakkara, Samson, and the owner may have led to Dravid's departure.

How did Rajasthan Royals perform in IPL 2025?

The Rajasthan Royals struggled in IPL 2025, winning only four matches and finishing ninth in the league standings.

What is Mohammad Kaif's prediction for Rajasthan Royals?

Kaif believes Rahul Dravid's departure will be detrimental to the Rajasthan Royals in the long term, especially for player development.

Home / Sports / Kaif: Royals' Dravid Exit Stems From Major Disagreement

Kaif: Royals' Dravid Exit Stems From Major Disagreement

19 Nov, 2025

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Summary

Mohammad Kaif suggests internal conflict led to Rahul Dravid's exit.
Rajasthan Royals struggled in IPL 2025, finishing ninth.
Dravid's departure is seen as a long-term detriment to the team.

Kaif: Royals' Dravid Exit Stems From Major Disagreement

Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has speculated that a substantial disagreement within the Rajasthan Royals' hierarchy led to significant changes ahead of IPL 2026. Kaif suggested that unresolved issues between Rahul Dravid, Kumar Sangakkara, Sanju Samson, and owner Manoj Badale might be the cause.

Dravid stepped down as coach on October 30, declining a broader role. Kaif deems this decision premature, especially after a challenging IPL 2025 season where the Royals finished ninth. He pointed out that the team had a weaker squad during the mega auction and that Dravid deserved another chance.

While Kaif dismissed rumors of a rift between Samson and Dravid, he believes Samson's trade to CSK won't severely impact the Royals. However, he emphasized that Dravid's departure represents a long-term loss, particularly for nurturing promising Indian players like Vaibhav Suryavanshi.