Chennai Super Kings on Monday announced former India left-arm pacer Zaheer Khan as the team's new head coach for IPL 2027.
A crucial part of India's successful World Cup 2011 campaign, Zaheer comes with a vast experience across formats having played 92 Tests, 200 ODIs and 17 T20Is for India in a career that spanned 14 years.
In the IPL, Zaheer has played 100 matches and turned to coaching roles post his retirement.
Rupa Gurunath, owner, Chennai Super Kings, said in a statement posted on the franchise's website: "We are pleased to confirm Zaheer Khan as the head coach for Chennai Super Kings. Zaheer's distinguished playing career and proven ability to nurture young talent make him a valuable addition to our setup. We are confident that his guidance will help strengthen the core of this franchise."
KS Viswanathan, Managing Director, Chennai Super Kings, said: "Zaheer is a world class bowler and has been a mentor to many young cricketers, especially fast bowlers, over the years. As a player, Zaheer was one of the key reasons for India's success in the 2000s. He's one of the finest cricketing brains and we look forward to having him in our family."
Zaheer said: "It's an honour to be a part of one of the most successful teams in the history of the IPL. As a cricketer, I have faced CSK on the field and have thoroughly enjoyed the contests. The atmosphere created by the Superfans at Chepauk make it even more special. I can't wait to join the legacy franchise with such a rich history."
According to Viswanathan, Zaheer's name was discussed and agreed upon by the team's leadership group. "We wanted to get the views of the cricket management including MS Dhoni, Ruturaj (Gaikwad) and Sanju (Samson)," Viswanathan told Cricinfo.com. "There were a lot of discussions with the owners also."
CONTRACT TO RUN FOR ONE SEASON
Zaheer's contract will be a year long and he is expected to start his role soon. The IPL retention window normally is November though franchises have not been given any firm date, the report on Cricinfo.com added.
Zaheer, who had a 14-year competitive cricket career capped by an ODI World Cup win in 2011, was recently with Lucknow Super Giants as their mentor until September 2025.
He was with Mumbai Indians from 2018 to 2022, first as director of cricket operations and later global head of development, once the owners diversified and bought T20 teams around the world. The CSK job will be his first as head coach.
Viswanathan said Zaheer did not go through any interview process and "readily" agreed to take up the new role, the report added. While the franchise has not made any statement yet on the future of the rest of the coaching bench from last season including long-term pair of Eric Simmons and Michael Hussey, Viswanthan said Zaheer has been given the authority to pick "his own coaching staff".
"It's an honour to be a part of one of the most successful teams in the history of the IPL," Zaheer said in a CSK press release on Monday. "As a cricketer, I have faced CSK on the field and have thoroughly enjoyed the contests. The atmosphere created by the Superfans at Chepauk make it even more special. I can't wait to join the legacy franchise with such a rich history."
Zaheer enjoyed successive title-winning seasons working with head coach Mahela Jayawardene at MI in 2019 and 2020. He played 100 IPL matches, picked up 102 wickets and was part of two finals, 2010 and 2011, losing both to CSK. Apart from his vast experience of playing and coaching in IPL, the CSK management and leadership group is certain Zaheer would be "a lot of help" to development of the team's bowlers.
CSK have had a difficult time in the IPL recently. They are yet to make the playoffs since winning the title three years ago in Dhoni's final season as full-time captain, and a bottom-placed finish in 2025 prompted a change in the way they function.
