Zaheer Khan Named CSK Head Coach as Fleming Era Ends
Chennai Super Kings named former India fast bowler Zaheer Khan their head coach on Monday, September 21, ending Stephen Fleming’s 18-year run in the job. The appointment comes ahead of IPL 2027, after a season in which CSK finished eighth and missed the playoffs for the third year running. According to reports, the franchise’s cricket management committee, which includes MS Dhoni, captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and owner Rupa Gurunath, wanted an Indian coach this time.
The Man Taking Over
Zaheer is soon to be 48. He played 92 Tests, 200 ODIs and 17 T20Is for India, and his 21 wickets at the 2011 World Cup were joint-highest in the tournament, level with Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi. In the IPL he played 100 matches and took 102 wickets at an economy rate of 7.58. Since retiring he has worked in franchise mentoring roles, including at Lucknow Super Giants. He said he was excited about IPL 2027 and about meeting CSK’s fans soon.
What Fleming Leaves Behind
Fleming joined CSK as a player ahead of IPL 2008 and became head coach the following season. Under him the franchise won five IPL titles (2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 and 2023) and two Champions League T20 trophies (2010 and 2014). The franchise said the two parted ways mutually after a series of discussions. The “18 years” in most reports covers the calendar span from 2009 to 2026; CSK itself played 17 IPL seasons in that window, because the team was suspended in 2016 and 2017.
CSK Season by Season
| Year | Result | Year | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Runners-up | 2018 | Champions |
| 2009 | Semi-finalists | 2019 | Runners-up |
| 2010 | Champions | 2020 | League stage |
| 2011 | Champions | 2021 | Champions |
| 2012 | Runners-up | 2022 | League stage |
| 2013 | Runners-up | 2023 | Champions |
| 2014 | Playoffs | 2024 | League stage |
| 2015 | Runners-up | 2025 | League stage |
| 2016 and 2017 | Suspended | 2026 | League stage |
What the Table Shows
Through 2019, CSK played 10 IPL seasons and reached the playoffs in all 10, including eight finals. Since 2020 the pattern has flipped. In seven seasons the team has either won the title (2021 and 2023) or missed the playoffs altogether (2020, 2022, 2024, 2025 and 2026), with nothing in between. The last three misses came back to back, a last-place finish in 2025 followed by eighth in 2026.
That is the job Zaheer inherits: a franchise that used to be able to count on a playoff place and now cannot. The table alone cannot say whether the slide came from the coaching room, the age of the core group or the auction, and none of the reports checked for this article pins it on a single cause.
What Has Not Been Announced
The reports checked do not give the length of Zaheer’s contract or say who will make up the rest of the support staff. Neither the franchise nor the reports spell out why an Indian coach was preferred beyond the committee’s stated wish for one. This article will be updated if either is confirmed.
For scores and fixtures once the cricket calendar moves on, IndiaRealTime’s live cricket page tracks matches as they happen. For anyone planning around a Chepauk match day, the Chennai page carries the city’s live weather and air quality, and the Tamil Nadu page has the same data across the state.
Elsewhere in Indian cricket on IndiaRealTime this week: Abhishek Sharma’s fastest-ever T20I century for India, and Shree Charani’s highest-ever ICC T20I rating for an Indian.
FAQs
Who is CSK’s new head coach?
Zaheer Khan, the former India fast bowler, named on September 21, 2026 ahead of IPL 2027.
Who did Zaheer Khan replace?
Stephen Fleming, who joined CSK as a player before IPL 2008, became head coach in 2009 and stepped down after an 18-year partnership.
How many IPL titles did CSK win under Fleming?
Five, in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 and 2023, plus two Champions League T20 titles in 2010 and 2014.
How did CSK finish in IPL 2026?
Eighth, after finishing last in 2025. It was the third straight season without a playoff place.
Why did CSK pick an Indian coach?
Reports say the franchise’s cricket management committee wanted an Indian coach this time. No further official reasoning has been published in the reports checked.
What are Zaheer Khan’s IPL numbers as a player?
100 matches, 102 wickets and an economy rate of 7.58.
Sources
- CricTracker: Zaheer Khan takes over as CSK head coach
- Daily Jagran: Chennai Super Kings appoint Zaheer Khan as new head coach ahead of IPL 2027
- Deccan Chronicle: Zaheer Khan appointed as new head coach of Chennai Super Kings
- Cricinfo: Stephen Fleming steps down as Chennai Super Kings head coach after 18-year stint
- Wikipedia: Chennai Super Kings, season-by-season results
- BCCI: Dream World Cup for Zaheer
Updated September 21, 2026.
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