Rajasthan Royals to acquire Travis Head! Franchise drops cryptic announcement
Published - 17 Nov 2025, 10:57 AM | Updated - 17 Nov 2025, 10:58 AM
Rajasthan Royals (RR) shared a cryptic post on social media ahead of the upcoming mini-auction, which is set to take place on December 16 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The inaugural IPL champions hinted at Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara as head coach following Rahul Dravid’s departure.
Dravid stepped down as head coach of Rajasthan in August. The former captain relinquished the post after only one season despite signing a multi-year contract. Notably, the franchise revealed that they had offered him a broader position, but he rejected it. RR has not yet announced who will replace Dravid.
Rahul Dravid Joined Rajasthan Ahead of the 2025 Season
Rahul Dravid joined Rajasthan ahead of the 2025 season after guiding India to the T20 World Cup title. He suffered a knee injury before the tournament and worked with the squad while on crutches. However, the team couldn’t build winning momentum under his coaching.
Rajasthan Royals endured a difficult campaign, winning only four of their 14 matches. They spent most of the season near the bottom of the table and eventually finished ninth. Riyan Parag took over the captaincy in several matches due to Sanju Samson’s injury.
Rajasthan also extended their long title drought, having not lifted the trophy since their inaugural triumph in 2008. Notably, Samson moved to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ahead of the mini-auction. The Royals received all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran in return.
Rajasthan Royals Share Cryptic Post Featuring Travis Head Image
Rajasthan Royals created a buzz on social media after posting a three-part image on X. The graphic showed yellow sunglasses at the top, the number 11.11 in the centre, and Travis Head’s smiling face at the bottom.
The team did not explain, leaving fans to decode the teaser on their own as the franchise prepares for changes ahead of IPL 2026. The cryptic post quickly led to speculation about Kumar Sangakkara.
Many fans shared that the yellow sunglasses are his signature eyewear, the number 11 matches his jersey number, and linked Travis Head’s picture to the word “head,” hinting at a possible head-coach role.
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) November 16, 2025
Fans began sharing their interpretations online, with the combination of clues possibly pointing toward Sangakkara stepping in as Rajasthan’s next head coach.
Kumar Sangakkara Has Been Part of the Franchise Since 2021
According to reports, the Rajasthan Royals are preparing to bring Kumar Sangakkara back into their coaching setup. Sangakkara has been part of the franchise since 2021. He has been the Director of Cricket and worked as head coach from 2021 to 2024.
RR reached the playoffs twice and finished as runners-up in 2022. Sangakkara is set to plan for the upcoming auction. Assistants Vikram Rathour and Shane Bond are expected to remain with the team. Trevor Penney and Siddhartha Lahiri are also likely to return to the support staff.
Although the franchise has yet to make any official announcement, the recent cryptic social media post has sparked speculation among fans. As Rajasthan Royals prepare for major decisions ahead of IPL 2026, they will announce Sangakkara's return as head coach in the coming weeks.
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