Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have appointed former India fast bowler Zaheer Khan as their head coach for IPL 2027. Zaheer Khan succeeds Stephen Fleming, who put an end to his 18-year association with the franchise before taking up the post of England's men's Test head coach in July.

Zaheer Khan is set to lead the CSK franchise in his new role as head coach. The ex-left-arm pacer has been in the cricketing space for a while now, having played 91 Tests and 208 ODIs for India before retiring from the IPL in 2017. Since then, he has served in various capacities, including leadership and development roles.

Zaheer Khan's coaching experience and IPL career

Zaheer played for three teams of Indian Premier League (IPL): Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Mumbai Indians (MI), and Delhi Capitals (DC) during his career. As a result, he took 102 wickets in 100 matches with an average of 27.27.

After retiring from cricket, Zaheer joined Mumbai Indians as their Director of Cricket Operations starting from the 2019 season. Furthermore, he became the Head of Global Development and worked on developing players' careers.

In 2025, Zaheer became the mentor of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), but he left them ahead of the next season. In addition, he became one of the best bowlers of India of the 2000s with a tally of 610 wickets.

Zaheer had wide experience in coaching fast bowlers and working in franchises, which made him a perfect fit for CSK.

Zaheer Khan reacts to CSK appointment

Zaheer said that he is overwhelmed to join CSK and looks forward to seeing the energy that the Superfans create at Chepauk.

“I am honored to be a part of one of the most successful franchises in the history of the IPL. As a player, I have had the privilege of facing CSK and competing against them in many thrilling encounters. The energy created by the passionate fans at Chepauk is truly remarkable. I am looking forward to being a part of this incredible journey and contributing to the legacy of Chennai Super Kings,” he said.

Moreover, Rupa Gurunath, owner of CSK, said that they are delighted to appoint Zaheer as the Head Coach of CSK. She added:

“We are delighted to welcome Zaheer Khan as the Head Coach for Chennai Super Kings. His exceptional batting and bowling prowess, accumulated over decades of an exemplary cricket career, will play a vital role in mentoring our young franchise,” she stated.

Finally, KS Viswanathan, Managing Director of CSK, stated that Khan is a world-class bowler who has mentored several young cricketers.

“He is a world-class bowler and has mentored many young cricketers over the years. Zaheer Khan has been one of the essential ingredients for India's success in the 2000s. He is one of the best cricket brains, and we are thrilled to have him on board,” he added.

Zaheer's appointment comes after Fleming's exit, which made CSK look for a coach with vast experience. The new coach will lead CSK in the upcoming IPL 2027 season, which starts next month.