The search for a CSK new head coach is officially on. Chennai Super Kings confirmed on Monday that Stephen Fleming has departed after 18 years, five IPL titles and two Champions League trophies — ending one of the most successful partnerships in franchise cricket history. Stephen Fleming joined CSK as a player in 2008 before becoming head coach of CSK in 2009, but three consecutive seasons without a playoff appearance made this split inevitable.
CSK’s top brass is reportedly in Dallas reviewing cricket operations and planning the road ahead. With the IPL 2027 auction on the horizon, the new coach of CSK will need to hit the ground running. Here are three names who could take the reins.
1. Hemang Badani — The Frontrunner For The Role
Hemang Badani is the leading candidate to become the next head coach of CSK, according to a Times of India report. The former India batter served as Delhi Capitals head coach during IPL 2025 and 2026, guiding them to fifth and sixth-place finishes respectively. With JSW Group set to overhaul DC’s setup and Sourav Ganguly expected to take charge, Badani is essentially a free agent.
What makes the Hemang Badani CSK link compelling is the fit. He is Chennai-born, understands Tamil Nadu cricket deeply, and has a reputation for working with young talent — exactly what CSK need given their heavy investment in uncapped players like Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma. Of the three options, Badani is the most realistic new coach of CSK right now.
2. Rahul Dravid — The Marquee Name In Contention
Rahul Dravid’s name has circulated as the potential new CSK head coach for months now. He stepped down as India head coach after the 2024 T20 World Cup and left Rajasthan Royals before IPL 2026, meaning he has no active franchise commitment. His relationship with CSK owner N Srinivasan adds weight to the Rahul Dravid CSK coach speculation.
However, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan denied that any talks have taken place with Dravid. There is also a fresh complication — reports suggest Dravid is being considered for the England Test coach role following Brendon McCullum’s sacking. Dravid reportedly has no desire for full-time coaching, and the England job would allow extended time at home while keeping him in the game. Whether CSK can convince him to return to franchise cricket remains a serious question mark.
3. Brendon McCullum — The Wildcard CSK New Head Coach 2027 Pick
Here is where it gets interesting. Stephen Fleming’s countrymate, Brendon McCullum, was sacked as England’s Test coach on July 12 after a 2-1 home series defeat to New Zealand, though he continues as white-ball coach. McCullum has deep CSK roots — he played 28 IPL matches for Chennai between 2014 and 2017 and understands the franchise culture. His aggressive coaching philosophy, built on the “Bazball” approach, could inject exactly the kind of fearless cricket CSK have lacked in recent seasons.
The Brendon McCullum CSK connection is speculative at this stage, but with McCullum now freed from Test duties and the franchise needing a reset, it is not as far-fetched as it sounds. If the CSK coaching role requires someone who can transform a conservative team into an attacking unit, McCullum fits that brief better than most.
Who Will Be The Next CSK Head Coach 2027?
Hemang Badani remains the most likely appointment given the reports linking him directly to CSK’s coaching setup. Rahul Dravid would be a marquee hire but appears unlikely given his reluctance toward full-time roles. McCullum is the exciting outsider. Whoever becomes the next head coach of CSK inherits a squad in transition — MS Dhoni’s future remains uncertain, the captaincy could shift to Sanju Samson, and the five-time champions desperately need to rediscover their identity after three barren years.
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