[REVISION HISTORY]

Zaheer Khan appointed Chennai Super Kings head coach

Updated 13 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-26 17:21 UTC → 2026-10-27 07:10 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have officially appointed former Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan as their head coach for the 2027 Indian Premier League season, succeeding Stephen Fleming. The decision follows a period where the team failed to qualify for the playoffs for three consecutive seasons, including an eighth-place finish in 2026. Khan, a 2011 ODI World Cup winner, has been signed to a one-year contract and granted full autonomy to select his backroom support staff. His appointment aligns with MS Dhoni’s reported preference for an Indian head coach and a domestic-led support staff. Reports indicate Dhoni was heavily involved in the decision-making process, having suggested Khan to CEO Kasi Viswanathan following discussions with captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and team owners. Before Khan was finalized, the franchise reportedly considered other candidates, including Eoin Morgan and Hemang Badani. As part of a broader management overhaul, the franchise has parted ways with long-serving batting coach Michael Hussey, who served the team for eight years. Mohit Sharma has been appointed as bowling coach, replacing Eric Simons, while the future of fielding coach James Foster remains uncertain. The restructuring also includes the departures of strength and conditioning coach Greg King, assistant coach Rajiv Kumar, and physiotherapist Tommy Simsek. Negotiations have progressed with former England spinner Gareth Batty, who is expected to join the staff as an assistant coach to assist Khan with player retentions and auction strategies. Batty leaves Surrey County Cricket Club, where he served as head coach and led the team to three consecutive County Championship titles from 2022 to 2024. While Dhoni was previously confirmed to continue as a player, Ravichandran Ashwin has suggested he may instead transition into a formal mentorship or advisory role. The new coaching staff is currently preparing for the player auction scheduled for mid-December in Goa.

Versions

Only revisions since CLSTR began indexing content versions appear here. Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.