Rahul Dravid has parted ways with Rajasthan Royals (RR). The IPL is currently ongoing, with a twist on top of a test. Initially, there was news that Sanju Samson had sent an email stating he wouldn’t be joining RR. Following that, there were reports that he was moving to Chennai Super Kings (CSK), with CSK actively pursuing Sanju Samson. There were also mentions of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) showing interest. Amidst all this, the news broke that Rahul Dravid is leaving RR. This was officially posted on RR’s page yesterday.
RR’s Offer and Dravid’s Decision
RR had discussions about offering Rahul Dravid a higher position, but he declined, completely severing ties with RR. Essentially, this means he decided against continuing as head coach. RR offered him a higher role, similar to what was done for someone last time, but Dravid declined, and RR decided he would no longer be the head coach. That’s the highlight.
The Sanju Samson Factor
When we piece this together, it’s clear there was some friction with Sanju Samson. This was visibly evident on the ground last year, as we already know the history. It seems RR is placing more value on Sanju Samson as a player or brand. They might have discussed giving Dravid a higher position to retain Sanju, but since Dravid wasn’t interested, he left. This suggests RR highly values Sanju as a brand. So, most likely, Sanju Samson will stay with RR.
What’s Next for Dravid?
All three parties involved—RR as a team, Rahul Dravid as a coach, and Sanju Samson as a player—are important to us. Each has their place. Rahul Dravid is a proven coach and a legend of Indian cricket. Now that he’s left RR, it’s unclear whether he’ll join another team or take up a national duty, perhaps at the NCA or another high-ranking position in Indian cricket. There are many possibilities. That could be why Dravid declined the position.
Sanju Samson’s Role and Retentions
Regarding Sanju Samson, there seems to have been some friction or differing decisions with Dravid. It’s not a fight but a case of the coach and player not being on the same page, especially regarding future plans. A key issue was Jos Buttler’s retention, which was very important to Sanju. Similarly, retentions of players like Trent Boult were significant, but Sanju’s ideas or interests weren’t considered in the retentions, according to some reports. We also saw last year that Sanju’s involvement was limited during team selections or moments like the Super Over, with Dravid making the decisions. When the coach and captain aren’t aligned, it creates an interesting dynamic. Hopefully, this will benefit the team, and Sanju will make a strong comeback.
MS Dhoni as T20 World Cup Mentor?
Another big news is that MS Dhoni is reportedly joining the Indian team as a mentor for the T20 World Cup. It’s unclear how this will work out or if the BCCI has approached Dhoni. There’s a well-known history of friction between Gautam Gambhir and Dhoni. How will they function as coach and mentor for the same team? It seems challenging, as both are strong leaders who stick to their decisions. Having two such dominant leaders in one team could lead to conflicts, which wouldn’t be good for the Indian team. Personally, I doubt Dhoni would be interested in this role with Gambhir involved, as Dhoni prefers to stay low-key to avoid conflicts.
Pakistan vs UAE Match Update
In other news, Pakistan defeated UAE in a match yesterday. Pakistan scored 207 runs batting first, while UAE managed 176. Pakistan’s Saim Ayub scored 69 runs off 38 balls, and Hasan Nawaz, a good hitter, performed well. UAE’s Asif Khan scored an explosive 77 runs off 35 balls, including three sixes. This was part of a seven-match series between Pakistan, UAE, and Afghanistan as a build-up to the Asia Cup. Sri Lanka is also set to play a T20 series against Zimbabwe.
Kerala Cricket League (KCL) Highlights
In the Kerala Cricket League (KCL), two matches took place yesterday. Calicut defeated Trivandrum, with Salman Nizar scoring an explosive 86 runs off 26 balls, including 11 sixes in 12 balls—an incredible performance that has gained national attention. Discussions about him being considered for Chennai trials are ongoing. KCL is a big opportunity for Kerala players this year, largely because of Sanju Samson’s involvement. His participation in KCL is a key reason for its hype and national attention. Sanju’s contributions to Kerala cricket have created opportunities for many young players and stars.
In the second KCL match, Kochi defeated Thrissur. Currently, Kochi Blue Tigers top the table, winning five out of seven matches, followed by Calicut Globals in second, Thrissur in third, and Kollam in fourth. Trivandrum and Alappuzha are slightly behind.
Final Thoughts
That’s the latest news. We’ll see if Sanju stays with RR in this new scenario. The Asia Cup build-up with Pakistan, UAE, and Afghanistan is crucial, and we’ll keep an eye on how things unfold.
