Zaheer Khan named Chennai Super Kings head coach for 2027 with Dhoni's backing

Zaheer Khan was appointed head coach of Chennai Super Kings for 2027, the franchise announced on Monday in Chennai on September 21, 2026, a decision the club says was made after consultation with former captain M.S. Dhoni.

Chennai Super Kings have been described by the club as a symbol of stability, and the vacancy followed the end of Stephen Fleming’s 18-year association as head coach earlier this year; the search for his successor took several months before Monday’s announcement.

“We take all our decisions after discussing with Dhoni, and once he suggested his name, the management spoke to Zaheer and convinced him. Zaheer is also tactically strong, especially at figuring out the opposition’s game plans. Ruturaj Gaikwad and the players are excited to work with him,” said CSK Managing Director K.S. Viswanathan.

The Super Kings have not reached the playoffs since their title-winning campaign in 2023, and the club says a problematic mega auction in 2025 has left the squad paying the price for those missteps; while some issues have been addressed in the batting department, the line-up remains unsettled.

With one more year before the next mega auction and a need to maximise existing resources, the CSK management indicated they expect Zaheer to make an impact. “We needed a coach who can gel well with the players, and Zaheer is the right choice for that. He is technically very strong and bowling is an area where we felt we needed to improve. He can help our pacers like Khaleel Ahmed and Gurjapneet Singh,” Viswanathan added.

During their playing days Dhoni frequently praised Zaheer and relied on him as the leader of the bowling attack, and Dhoni once described him as the Sachin Tendulkar of bowling; the two have reunited in different capacities with the task of restoring the Super Kings’ success.

Zaheer will take over the head coach role for the 2027 season.