After Rahul Dravid, Rajasthan Royals Part Ways with CEO Jake Lush McCrum

The Rajasthan Royals (RR) continue to witness a high-profile churn in leadership, with CEO Jake Lush McCrum becoming the latest to part ways with the franchise. This development follows the exit of head coach Rahul Dravid and the uncertain future of skipper Sanju Samson — signaling a significant overhaul within the IPL franchise after a disappointing season.

Cricbuzz understands that McCrum, a UK-born executive who has been associated with RR in various capacities over the years, has informed peers and industry contacts about his decision to move on. He is currently in the process of transitioning out of the role and is expected to officially step down by October.

McCrum, often simply referred to as "Jake" in IPL circles, joined the Royals in a junior role and steadily climbed the ranks before being appointed CEO in 2021 at just 28 years old. His absence from the SA20 auction table — where he was typically a regular presence — on Tuesday (September 9) further confirmed his impending departure. Kumar Sangakkara, expected to return as RR's head coach, led the bidding in his place for the Paarl Royals.

The exodus from the Royals doesn't end there. The head of marketing has also exited following the recent IPL season. While Sanju Samson hasn’t formally announced his departure, speculation around his future with the franchise continues to grow.

This wave of departures is part of what appears to be a deeper shake-up initiated after RR's poor performance in the 2025 IPL season, where they finished ninth, winning only four out of 14 matches. Reports suggest the franchise viewed five of those losses as close contests — including a Super Over defeat — and were further hampered by Samson missing five matches due to injury. Dravid, too, was reportedly recovering from a foot injury during the season.

Dravid’s exit, which was officially confirmed by the franchise, was reportedly prompted by an offer of a "broader role" — seen by many as a diplomatic way of sidelining the World Cup-winning coach. The Royals' review of their season began in July and has seemingly led to a wide-scale restructuring of both leadership and strategy.

Despite the changes, some continuity is expected. Batting coach Vikram Rathour, who worked under Dravid, is likely to remain with the franchise. He was recently called to London by team owner Manoj Badale, who is believed to be centralizing the franchise’s leadership operations in the UK. Other members of the coaching setup include Shane Bond (bowling coach), Sairaj Bahutule (spin coach), and Dishant Yagnik (fielding coach).

Badale’s increasing involvement and the shift of leadership out of India suggest a strategic pivot in how the Royals intend to operate going forward. However, the departures of key figures like Dravid and McCrum raise questions about the franchise's internal dynamics and long-term vision — particularly concerning their historic focus on developing young Indian talent.

Cricbuzz has reached out to McCrum and the franchise's media team for official comment. As the Royals prepare for the next IPL season, all eyes will be on how they rebuild and who steps in to fill the leadership void.