Last Updated: December 17, 2025 01:40 PM
Manoj Badale spoke up about his team’s future plans recently. The Rajasthan Royals owner cleared the air on several important topics. Kumar Sangakkara will continue as their head coach for IPL 2026. Sale rumors about the franchise are completely false too.
Sangakkara Gets Full Support
Kumar Sangakkara moved up from director of cricket to head coach. Manoj Badale fully backs this decision for the upcoming season. The change came after Rahul Dravid left following a tough 2025 campaign. Rajasthan Royals finished 9th with only 4 wins from 14 matches.
“It was a tough decision. It’s not a new coach; Kumar has coached us before. It was really about simplification. There’s no judgment on Rahul, I think he remains possibly one of the greatest coaches in India. So yes, it was tough, but it was a decision, and it’s been made,” Badale said.
Badale made sure everyone understood one thing clearly though. This wasn’t about criticizing Dravid’s coaching abilities at all. He called Dravid one of India’s greatest coaches publicly.
The former coach resigned himself after the disappointing season ended. He didn’t want the expanded role the franchise offered him.
The move to promote Kumar Sangakkara aims at simplifying team operations. Having one person handle both roles makes communication easier. Sangakkara knows the team well from his previous position already.
Big Changes in the Squad
Rajasthan Royals made some bold moves before IPL 2026 started. They traded their long-time captain, Sanju Samson, to Chennai Super Kings. That shocked many fans initially but strategy matters here. The team brought in Sam Curran and Ravindra Jadeja instead.
The auction saw them sign nine new players successfully. Ravi Bishnoi joined for ₹7.4 crore as their key spinner. Several uncapped players also got contracts from the franchise.
Sale Rumors Shut Down
Manoj Badale addressed those persistent sale rumors head-on finally. He called it routine speculation that happens every year. These stories have been floating around for seventeen years now. The owner dismissed all such talk completely and firmly.
“It’s been on for 17 years, nothing new there,” Badale said.
Rajasthan Royals isn’t going anywhere under the current ownership. Badale and his team remain committed to building success. IPL 2026 represents a fresh start for everyone involved.
