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Former Australia National Cricket Team opener Matthew Hayden named former India keeper-batter Dinesh Karthik as the next head coach of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Hayden believes that, more than overseas coaches, someone local will be more impactful for a team with five titles in its trophy room.
Dinesh Karthik is currently the batting coach and mentor of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). He last played for RCB as a keeper-batter in 2024 before announcing his retirement. Soon after retiring from the Indian Premier League, he joined the franchise as the batting coach and mentor.
Matthew Hayden picks Dinesh Karthik as CSK's next head coach
Dinesh Karthik's presence in the coaching set-up proved influential as RCB won their maiden IPL trophy in 2025 and then defended it successfully in 2026. Matthew Hayden said Dinesh Karthik is now eligible for a bigger coaching role.
Speaking to Sportstar, the former Australian batter said that among all the rumoured names, Karthik fits best for the head coach role for the Chennai Super Kings because he can bring the local touch with him.
"There are names that have been mentioned; one of them was Dinesh Karthik, who I think is probably ready to take on that kind of role. I think it’s important to have a local coach. I know that a lot of franchises do go for international coaches, but I feel like the head coach role of a franchise as big as CSK should have that kind of local touch, even a Chennai touch, which is why I thought Dinesh would be perfect," said Matthew Hayden.
Matthew Hayden welcomes CSK's decision to sack Stephen Fleming as their head coach
Stephen Fleming and Super Kings shared a close relationship which spand over a decade. Ahead of IPL 2027, the franchise, which won its last IPL title in 2023, parted ways with Fleming.
The decision to remove Fleming from the role was not easy, but Matthew Hayden appreciated CSK's move. The combination of Stephen Fleming and MS Dhoni attracted a lot of success, but in the recent past, the team was far from its best.
It’s a bold and good move: Matthew Hayden says on removing Stephen Fleming from CSK
As Dhoni was in his 40s, close to his IPL retirement, the combination of Fleming and Dhoni officially came to an end, unceremoniously.
"It’s something that I really hope that the franchise gets right. Flemo did a fantastic job with M. S. Dhoni; that was really such a strong engine room of CSK. [It was] such a beautiful campaign that MS and Flemo had. So much success, equal title holds with Mumbai [Indians], just such a good legacy, but it’s a bold and good move, and I’m looking forward to seeing who gets the job," the former Aussie batter told Sportstar.
Ahead of another season, the franchise is yet to announce their next head coach. They are taking their time. Ruturaj Gaikwad is currently their captain, but he is yet to prove himself as the leader of the team.
