Chennai Super Kings name Zaheer Khan head coach after 18-year Fleming era

Chennai Super Kings on Monday appointed former India pace great Zaheer Khan as their new head coach for the 2027 Indian Premier League season, bringing an end to Stephen Fleming’s 18-year association with the franchise.

“Welcoming Zaheer Khan as the Head Coach of Chennai Super Kings,” the five-time IPL champions said in a post on X.

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Zaheer, 48, takes charge after one of the longest coaching tenures in IPL history. Fleming joined CSK as a player in the inaugural 2008 season and took over as head coach in 2009, beginning a run that would make him one of the most successful coaches in the league.

Under Fleming, CSK won five IPL titles and two Champions League T20 trophies, reached the playoffs 12 times and featured in 10 IPL finals. His tenure also coincided with the franchise's long-standing association with MS Dhoni, helping establish CSK as one of the most consistent teams in the competition.

Fleming and CSK mutually ended their association in July after the franchise failed to make the playoffs for a third consecutive season. His departure brought to a close an era that had stretched across nearly two decades, first as a player and then as coach.

Zaheer brings a different profile to the role. A key member of India's 2011 World Cup-winning side, he played around a century of Tests, 200 ODIs and 17 T20Is for India. He was India's leading wicket-taker in the 2011 World Cup with 21 wickets.

After retiring from international cricket, Zaheer moved into coaching and cricket management. He worked with Mumbai Indians in senior cricket-management and player-development roles before joining Lucknow Super Giants as a mentor. He had also mentored LSG during the 2024 season.

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Zaheer's appointment also marks a shift towards an Indian head coach after CSK's long association with Fleming. The franchise had been weighing domestic and overseas options for the position, with MS Dhoni involved in the process.

CSK's decision comes after two difficult seasons. The franchise finished at the bottom of the IPL standings in both 2025 and 2026, prompting a wider rethink of its playing and coaching structure.

For Zaheer, the challenge will be to oversee CSK's transition while preserving the systems and culture built during the Fleming era. His experience working with young players and fast bowlers adds another dimension as the franchise looks to rebuild its core for the next phase.

Fleming's exit had left CSK facing its first major coaching transition in nearly two decades. Zaheer's appointment now gives the franchise an Indian head coach as it prepares for IPL 2027.