The Rajasthan Royals camp seems to be caught in the eye of a storm with disturbing developments following each other relentlessly. Just a few days after head coach Rahul Dravid’s unexpected departure, another key departure in the guise of the franchise’s management has raised doubts in the lead-up to IPL 2026. Added to this is ongoing speculation regarding the future of skipper Sanju Samson that has only heightened the intrigue.
The gossip surrounding Samson started earlier this summer, with news reporting that the Royals skipper had requested the franchise either release him or work on trade options ahead of the mini-auction. Gossip quickly gained momentum, with Chennai Super Kings being quoted as showing interest, although the negotiations never made progress. As the news about Samson gained pace, Dravid’s exit was announced officially by the Royals in a shocking news.
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This is not the first top exit from the franchise in recent history. The team’s marketing head, Dwijendra Parashar, had resigned at the end of last season. Now, CEO Jake Lush McCrum has also decided to bid adieu. As per Cricbuzz, McCrum has already made the others in the IPL administration and industry colleagues aware of his decision. Having started at the Royals in a junior position, he progressed through the operations wing before rising to the top in 2021 when he was just 28 years old. He is set to leave officially by October. There had been much speculation about his future following his absence from the Paarl Royals’ table at the SA20 auction, where Kumar Sangakkara stood in for the team. It is also likely that Sangakkara might return as the head coach for the coming season.
These back-to-back exits, coupled with the persistent uncertainty surrounding Samson, have raised doubts about the Royals’ inner stability. Recent reports in the last month indicate that the issues started after a July review of performance, after a nightmare 2025 season in which the inaugural IPL winners won just four of 14 games and finished ninth. Those reports indicate that franchise owner Manoj Badale has since consolidated his power over operations, relocating the team’s leadership center to London.
