MS Dhoni, a stalwart of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), has suggested that an Indian head coach should succeed Stephen Fleming for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2027 season. The five-time champions are reportedly considering Hemang Badani, a former player for India and Tamil Nadu, for this position.
With CSK parting ways with Stephen Fleming following three seasons without playoff appearances, the team is in the midst of a significant transition. Initially, it was expected that the franchise would appoint an ‘overseas expert’ as head coach, a position they haven’t filled since 2009.
However, as per a report from the Indian Express, Dhoni has advocated for hiring an Indian coach who understands local talent and is focused solely on CSK, departing from the prevailing multi-franchise approach.
“The suspense over Chennai Super Kings’ new head coach is likely to be resolved within the next week or two, with former India batsman Hemang Badani lined up as the potential successor to Stephen Fleming,” the report states.
“The Indian Express understands that with former captain MS Dhoni pushing for an Indian-led support staff, Badani has emerged the front runner, on the back of his previous IPL experience as head coach of Delhi Capitals and his success in other T20 leagues. The final call, though, still rests with the ownership, which continues to explore overseas options,” the report continues.
There is uncertainty regarding Hemang Badani’s future with the Delhi Capitals (DC), as the team failed to make the playoffs in the IPL 2025 and 2026 seasons. Despite this, Badani has found success in international leagues as the head coach of the Dubai Capitals in the International League T20, along with roles in the Hundred, SA20, and the Lanka Premier League.
Additionally, he has led the Chepauk Super Gillies to four titles over seven years in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL).
“No rush to make a decision” – CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad on the head coach hunt ahead of IPL 2027
Reports indicate that both CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and veteran MS Dhoni will play key roles in selecting the team’s next head coach.
“We will have a head coach. The management is obviously thinking about it. There is still plenty of time before the IPL, so there is no rush to make a decision,” Gaikwad told reporters recently (via Hindustan Times).
CSK ended in eighth place on the IPL 2026 points table after another disappointing season under the leadership of Gaikwad. In the previous mini-auction, the team underwent a major overhaul, releasing notable players such as Matheesha Pathirana and Ravindra Jadeja, and bringing in Sanju Samson, along with top uncapped players like Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer.
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Edited by Gokul Nair
