Chennai Super Kings have appointed Zaheer Khan as head coach for IPL 2027. The franchise announced the move on 21 September 2026. Zaheer, 47, replaces Stephen Fleming, who left after 18 seasons in charge to become England’s Test head coach. It is Zaheer’s first job as a head coach.
Why CSK made the change
The appointment follows three seasons without a playoff place. CSK finished fifth in 2024, last in 2025 for the first wooden spoon in their history, and eighth in 2026.
Managing director Kasi Viswanathan confirmed that MS Dhoni was part of the decision. Viswanathan said the franchise does nothing without Dhoni’s advice, and that Dhoni continues as a CSK player. The decision group also included owner Rupa Gurunath and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Zaheer has been given control over choosing his own support staff. The appointment is initially for one season.
Fleming’s CSK record
Fleming was one of the longest-serving coaches in franchise cricket. Across 18 seasons, CSK won five IPL titles and two Champions League T20 titles under him. His exit comes after England named him head coach of their Test side in July 2026.
Zaheer Khan’s background
Zaheer has spent most of his post-playing career at Mumbai Indians. He worked there for five years as director of cricket operations, helping build the squads that won back-to-back IPL titles in 2019 and 2020, and later became the franchise’s head of global development. In IPL 2025 he was mentor at Lucknow Super Giants.
As a player he took 610 international wickets across all formats for India. In the IPL he played 100 matches for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Mumbai Indians and Delhi, taking 102 wickets at an average of 27.27, and captained Delhi Daredevils in 2016 and 2017.
Zaheer Khan at a glance
- International wickets: 610
- IPL matches: 100, for RCB, Mumbai Indians and Delhi
- IPL wickets: 102 at 27.27
- Coaching roles: director of cricket operations and head of global development at Mumbai Indians; mentor at Lucknow Super Giants (2025)
- New role: head coach, Chennai Super Kings, from IPL 2027
What comes next
Zaheer’s first decisions will come before the IPL 2027 auction, which IPL chairman Arun Dhumal wants to bring back to India. The rules he will be working under may also change: the BCCI has asked all ten franchises for feedback on the Impact Player rule, explained in our Impact Player rule report.
Updated 7 October 2026. Sources: Free Press Journal, Wisden and Telangana Today (PTI).
