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Chennai Super Kings are rebuilding their coaching and support staff ahead of IPL 2027 after a run of seasons outside the playoffs, with new head coach Zaheer Khan overseeing changes across the backroom group. Former India fast bowler Mohit Sharma is set to take over the bowling-coach role, while former England spinner Gareth Batty has joined as assistant coach. Speculation involving former CSK all-rounder Albie Morkel and possible player trades has also surfaced, but those claims need to be separated from appointments that have been confirmed in reporting.
The revamp follows CSK’s decision to move on from several members of the previous setup. Batting coach Mike Hussey and bowling coach Eric Simons have departed, as have assistant coach Rajiv Kumar and fielding coach James Foster, according to reports published on October 26 and 27. Zaheer’s first IPL season in charge will therefore begin with a significantly reshaped support team.
Zaheer was appointed head coach after Stephen Fleming’s long association with CSK ended. The franchise is looking to reset after finishing fifth in 2024, 10th in 2025 and eighth in 2026, having last won the IPL title in 2023. The results have prompted changes in both leadership and specialist coaching roles.
Mohit Sharma is replacing Eric Simons as bowling coach. Mohit previously played for CSK and India and brings experience of the franchise’s environment from his playing career. His appointment gives Zaheer a dedicated specialist for the bowling group while the head coach works across the broader team and support structure.
Gareth Batty has joined CSK as assistant coach after leaving Surrey, where he served as head coach. Batty led Surrey to three consecutive County Championship titles from 2022 to 2024. He also played international cricket for England, appearing in nine Tests, 10 ODIs and one T20I. His previous connection with Zaheer Khan at Worcestershire has been cited in reports as part of the background to his move.
Hussey had been CSK’s batting coach since 2018, following six seasons as a player for the franchise. His departure ends an eight-year coaching association that overlapped with several successful CSK campaigns. The franchise publicly thanked him for his contribution, while also confirming the end of its association with Simons.
Reports have also said Rajiv Kumar and fielding coach James Foster will not continue in the 2027 setup. The changes mean the franchise is not simply filling one vacancy: it is building a new group around Zaheer and reviewing responsibilities across batting, bowling and fielding. The remaining roles and exact division of duties should be treated as unresolved unless CSK confirms them directly.
Albie Morkel’s name has appeared in discussion around CSK’s wider coaching structure, partly because of his connection to the franchise and his coaching work with sister teams. However, the sources reviewed for this article do not provide a clear official confirmation that Morkel has been appointed to CSK’s IPL 2027 staff. His possible role should therefore be described as speculation, not a completed appointment.
Trade rumours are also circulating as CSK prepare for the next season and player-retention decisions. The Indian Express previously reported that CSK were not involved in trade talks at the time of its report and described speculation about a move for Hardik Pandya as a non-starter. That does not rule out future discussions, but it means there is no verified basis in the sources reviewed to present a specific player trade as agreed.
With the retention deadline and mini-auction approaching, team-building rumours are likely to continue. Until a franchise statement or reliable confirmation emerges, names linked to possible trades should be kept distinct from formal squad announcements. The same standard applies to reported coaching candidates whose precise role has not been confirmed.
CSK’s challenge is to turn structural change into a more consistent on-field performance. The new head coach and specialist staff will need to clarify player roles, prepare for the auction and build a squad capable of returning to the playoffs. The early appointments suggest an emphasis on giving Zaheer a support group with varied international and domestic experience.
The SportsLine angle: The key story is the scale of CSK’s reset, not every rumour attached to it. Mohit Sharma’s bowling-coach role and Gareth Batty’s assistant-coach appointment are supported by published reports, while Albie Morkel’s possible involvement and player-trade talk remain unconfirmed in the sources reviewed. Readers should watch for official CSK announcements as the 2027 squad and support staff take shape.
