Chennai Super Kings are on the hunt for a new head coach following Stephen Fleming’s departure to lead the England cricket team earlier this year. The five-time IPL champions, who secured titles in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023 during Fleming’s 18-year stewardship, now face the critical task of naming his successor.
Matthew Hayden, the former Australia opener who represented CSK in 32 matches and lifted the 2010 IPL trophy alongside the franchise, has publicly endorsed Dinesh Karthik as a top contender for the position. Hayden believes Karthik brings the right mix of credentials and temperament to fill Fleming’s shoes.
“Well, I feel like Dinesh Karthik would be a really good choice for CSK. He has been kind of under the tutelage of other world-class coaches, including names like Andy Flower, for example, who have had very successful playing and coaching careers. But being a local Tamil boy, I feel like that is a really important piece,” Hayden said on the Wisden Cricket podcast.
Why Hayden backs Karthik for the CSK role?
Karthik, a Chennai native, retired from international cricket in 2024 and has since transitioned into coaching. He joined Royal Challengers Bengaluru as batting coach and mentor ahead of IPL 2025, working under Andy Flower. His expanding coaching portfolio signals a clear shift toward the technical side of the game.
“It’s not a must have, but for Tamil Nadu cricket in particular, I just felt like CSK has always been backed by the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association. So I feel like some local flavour would be the next best step for CSK,” Hayden said.
“CSK notoriously picks from afar. You know, they drive over fish to get to fish. There have been very few players that have actually come from Tamil Nadu itself. They play everywhere else. The one thing I’ll say is it’s very difficult to be a foreign coach in the IPL as well. I give great credit to those that do it because there are some natural language barriers, especially not so much the seasoned campaigners and veterans of Indian cricket, but which sides are littered with,” Hayden said.
CSK are navigating a transitional phase after a underwhelming IPL 2025 campaign. The five-time champions, last crowned in 2023, endured a rough season and landed eighth on the points table, bowing out of playoff contention.
Ruturaj Gaikwad’s squad laboured throughout the tournament, while MS Dhoni did not feature in a single match. As CSK looks to rebuild and set a new direction, identifying Fleming’s replacement ranks among the franchise’s top priorities heading into the next season.