Last Updated on 1 hour ago by Charbel Coorey
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have appointed former India pacer Zaheer Khan as their new head coach for the IPL 2027 season and beyond. He will replace Stephen Fleming, bringing Fleming’s long association with the franchise to an end after 18 years in the CSK setup.
Fleming departed his position after serving most of his time as the franchise’s head of coaching. Since then he has moved into international cricket and was named England’s men’s Test head coach in July. Zaheer meanwhile will take the charge of CSK after having experience in several coaching and management roles since the end of his playing career.
Zaheer played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals in his IPL span. He later joined the Mumbai Indians as their Director of Cricket Operations ahead of the 2019 season and then worked as their head of global development. He was also named mentor of the Lucknow Super Giants for IPL 2025 before leaving the franchise ahead of the next season.
Zaheer played 100 games and took 102 wickets at an average of 27.27. He retired from the IPL in 2017. He also had a long international career for India, claiming 610 wickets across formats.
Zaheer Khan Upon Joining CSK: “I can’t wait to join the legacy franchise”
Former Indian great speaks about how he feels after becoming the head coach of IPL’s most beloved and successful team. In a press release by CSK, he said, “It’s an honour to be a part of one of the most successful teams in the history of the IPL. As a cricketer, I have faced CSK on the field and have thoroughly enjoyed the contests. The atmosphere created by the Superfans at Chepauk make it even more special. I can’t wait to join the legacy franchise with such a rich history.”
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CSK Managing Director KS Viswanathan welcomed the appointment of Zaheer Khan and pointed out that he has a vast experience as a player and as a mentor. He also spoke about Zaheer’s contribution to Indian cricket and his understanding of the game and also expressed his confidence in Zaheer’s role with the franchise.
“Zaheer is a world-class bowler and has mentored many young cricketers, especially fast bowlers, over the years. As a player, Zaheer was one of the pillars behind India’s success in the 2000s. “He is one of the best cricketing brains and we are looking forward to have him in our family,” he added.
Reactions: What do fans think of the appointment?
Here are some of the reactions to Zaheer’s appointment as coach of CSK.
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