# Chennai Super Kings coaching leadership transition > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/chennai-super-kings-coaching-leadership-transition > Updated: 2026-08-28T15:20:37.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2. The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are navigating a leadership transition following the departure of long-time head coach Stephen Fleming, who moved to become the England Test head coach. Initially, Matthew Hayden recommended Dinesh Karthik for the head coach position, suggesting the franchise would benefit from a ‘local touch’ or ‘Chennai touch’ rather than hiring international candidates. While the team considered several overseas options, including Mike Hussey and Brendon McCullum, the focus shifted toward internal continuity. Reports indicate that MS Dhoni is expected to take on a significant new role as either a mentor or head coach. The franchise has reportedly paused certain pre-season operations while awaiting Dhoni’s decision. Management is prioritizing candidates with close connections to Dhoni to maintain dressing room culture, with names such as Michael Hussey, Dwayne Bravo, and Eric Simons being considered. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-28: MS Dhoni expected to take coaching or mentoring role at CSK Chennai Super Kings are preparing for a leadership overhaul, with MS Dhoni expected to transition into a coaching or mentoring role following the departure of head coach Stephen Fleming. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ms-dhoni-expected-to-take-coaching-or-mentoring-role-at-csk ### 2026-08-23: Matthew Hayden backs Dinesh Karthik for CSK head coach role Matthew Hayden has backed former India player Dinesh Karthik to become the next head coach of the Chennai Super Kings, advocating for a local coach to replace Stephen Fleming. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/matthew-hayden-backs-dinesh-karthik-for-csk-head-coach-role --- Cite as: Chennai Super Kings coaching leadership transition. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/chennai-super-kings-coaching-leadership-transition