Was Rahul Dravid 'kicked out' of Rajasthan Royals? AB de Villiers' bold take

AB de Villiers has offered his perspective on the sudden exit of Rahul Dravid from Rajasthan Royals. The former South Africa star has hinted that the previous Indian head coach may not have left entirely on his own terms. Comparing the situation to the high-pressure environment faced by football managers in leagues like the Premier League, the South African great suggested that Dravid’s short stint at the franchise could have ended due to a call from the team’s hierarchy rather than a personal choice.

The exit of Rahul Dravid from Rajasthan Royals looks like the owner's call instead of a personal choice, says AB de Villiers

On August 30, Rajasthan Royals confirmed Dravid’s departure, stating that he had declined a 'broader' role that was created after a structural review of the franchise ahead of IPL 2025. Dravid, who once captained the Royals, had been brought in after his celebrated tenure with Team India, where he oversaw their T20 World Cup triumph in 2024. Expectations were high for him to replicate similar success in the IPL under the leadership of Sanju Samson.

Instead, the season turned into one of the franchise’s most disappointing campaigns, with the team finishing ninth out of ten in IPL 2025. Poor planning at the auction, frequent changes in team combinations, and erratic performances all contributed to a forgettable year. Although Rahul Dravid has not publicly addressed his departure, reports suggest he was at odds with some of the franchise’s long-term plans, including the decision to hand over captaincy to Riyan Parag from IPL 2026 onwards.

According to De Villiers, Dravid’s coaching style is rooted in direct involvement, and a shift to a reduced, backseat role may not have suited him. While many IPL coaches have taken on titles such as mentor or director of cricket in recent years, those positions typically don’t allow the same level of influence on daily operations or player development.

"We don’t know the facts really. It sounds to me that the fact he turned down the other role meant he was sort of kicked out, which is never ideal,” De Villiers said. “But maybe Rajasthan have different ideas for the upcoming season. Maybe they want to shake things up a bit and move forward,” he added.

“I don’t know what exactly happened there. It sort of sounds to me like an owner’s call. They gave him an option to have a broader role in the team, which he turned down. Maybe he was upset and still wanted to be in that dugout. Maybe it was his call. We don’t know, but we’ll find out in the future,” De Villiers further observed.

The ex-Proteas captain also voiced concerns over the Royals’ auction strategy, pointing out that the 2008 champions had released key performers like Jos Buttler, Yuzvendra Chahal, and R Ashwin ahead of the last mega auction. To make matters worse, the franchise had to deal with injuries to skipper Sanju Samson, which led to constant shuffling in the lineup. During Samson’s absence, Riyan Parag was even asked to captain for a couple of matches.

“I didn’t think they had the greatest auction last time. They let go of some incredible players like Jos Buttler and a few others, which I thought was a mistake. Sometimes it’s good to make changes, but not overly aggressively. You can let one or two go, but they released a huge bulk of their team at once. It should have been more gradual,” De Villiers noted.

While Dravid's departure has been announced officially, RR is also looking at the impending exit of Sanju Samson. The skipper has reportedly demanded a release from the squad ahead of IPL 2026. With Samson’s future at the franchise now under speculation, the Royals are entering a pivotal phase. The focus will be on how their restructured management navigates the upcoming mini auction, expected later this year in November or December.