(Sportzpics)
Kumar Sangakkara, the former Sri Lankan captain who has served as head coach for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL for several seasons, may be on the verge of leaving his position to take over as England’s white-ball head coach. According to a report from Cricbuzz on Friday, Sangakkara is a strong contender to succeed Matthew Mott in the role. Should Sangakkara move to the England setup, the Rajasthan Royals are expected to appoint Rahul Dravid as their new head coach.
Dravid, who concluded his two-and-a-half-year term as head coach of the Indian team in June 2024, previously played for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL between 2011 and 2013.
Matthew Mott, who took over as England’s white-ball coach in 2022, led the team to victory in the T20 World Cup that year. However, during his tenure, England was unable to defend its ODI World Cup and T20 World Cup titles in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
Mott stepped down from his role last month, and former opening batter Marcus Trescothick was appointed as the interim head coach. Recently, Kumar Sangakkara, who ranks as the second-highest run scorer in ODIs, was queried about the possibility of taking on the role of England’s white-ball head coach. He did not dismiss the idea, indicating that he is open to the opportunity.
“Well, I know my name has been mentioned for some reason, but there has not been any approach as such. I think the England white-ball job is an exciting prospect for anyone, but there are so many good candidates out there. I am very happy at the moment. The Rajasthan Royals experience has been very fulfilling, and it has been a job I have really enjoyed over the last four years,” Sangakkara was quoted as saying by English media.
Reports suggest that Kumar Sangakkara has a close relationship with Rob Key, the managing director of England’s men’s team. Additionally, Sangakkara has worked closely with England’s white-ball captain, Jos Buttler, during their time together at the Rajasthan Royals, where they are known to have built a strong rapport.
Besides Sangakkara, former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff is also being considered for the prestigious position of head coach.
