Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden feels that the Chennai-based Dinesh Karthik is a “perfect” candidate to take over as Chennai Super Kings head coach.

Karthik, who is serving as the batting coach and mentor of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, has been instrumental in the two-time defending IPL champion’s success. According to Hayden, who played for CSK between 2008 and 2010, the franchise should look within the State to replace Stephen Fleming.

“It’s something that I really hope the franchise gets right. Flemo did a fantastic job with M.S. Dhoni, that was such a strong engine room of CSK,” Hayden told The Hindu.

Hayden, the co-owner and head coach of Glasgow Cosmic in the European T20 Premier League, believes that Karthik is ready to take up the role at CSK.

“There’s been names that have been mentioned. One of them was Karthik. I think that it’s important to have a local coach. I know that a lot of franchises go for international coaches, but I feel the head coach role of a franchise as big as CSK should have that kind of local touch, even Chennai touch, which is why I thought Karthik would be perfect,” the 54-year-old said.

Fleming led Super Kings to five IPL titles and two Champions League crowns. But after three underwhelming campaigns, the Kiwi and the franchise decided to part ways.

“You can certainly have support staff who aren’t local, but what a shift! It was such a beautiful campaign that M.S. and Fleming had: so much success, equal titles with Mumbai [Indians], just such good legacy, but it’s a bold and good move. I’m looking forward to seeing who gets the job.”

Hardik Pandya could be at the centre of the Indian Premier League’s biggest trade story ahead of the 2027 season, with Mumbai Indians considering a significant overhaul after enduring its longest title drought in the competition.

While no trade has been officially confirmed, conversations around Hardik’s future had gathered momentum even before the conclusion of IPL 2026.

Chennai Super Kings has emerged as a possible next stop for the India all-rounder — and, given his profile, there would be no shortage of suitors if he does become available — while Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals have also been understood to be considering the Hardik option.

The speculation comes after three contrasting seasons for MI. After a disastrous 2024 campaign, the five-time champion recovered to reach the playoffs in 2025 before another underwhelming performance in 2026 prompted a comprehensive review within the franchise.

“Our post-season review is currently on and we are looking into all aspects. Contrary to reports, we are not engaged in conversations with regard to player trade. The same is only possible once the review is complete,” an MI spokesperson told The Hindu on Saturday. “A range of options and ideas are being evaluated, which require time… hence no decisions have been made.”

That review extends well beyond the captaincy. Sources close to the franchise indicate MI is evaluating its leadership group, coaching staff and overall cricket operations as it looks to rebuild a side that has failed to challenge consistently for the title in recent years.

Despite the growing buzz, Hardik’s exit is far from certain. His decision to part ways with MI’s talent management arm has fuelled speculation, but it is not being viewed as a complete break with the franchise.

Historically, MI has retained its core players for long periods and continues to be regarded as one of the strongest player-management ecosystems in Indian sport, making any move involving its captain a complex one.

The trade market, meanwhile, remains in its early stages, with most franchises still conducting post-season reviews before finalising their plans — meaning multiple scenarios will likely continue to circulate across the league in the coming weeks.

Whether Hardik leaves or not, one thing appears increasingly clear: Mumbai Indians is unlikely to head into IPL 2027 with the same core that has represented the franchise over the last three seasons.

And if the India all-rounder does switch teams, it could prove to be the defining move of this trade window.

Left-arm pacer Gurjapneet Singh praised former Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming for creating a pressure-free environment.

Reflecting on Fleming’s exit from CSK, Gurjapneet described the Kiwi as a coach who trusted players and encouraged them to rely on their strengths rather than burdening them with pressure. “I was with him for two years. He was very calm and easy to talk to because when we are losing, it’s difficult to talk to the coach sometimes. Everyone is under pressure. But he is a person who doesn’t put pressure on you.

“He has an X-factor. That’s why CSK was able to win five trophies (under him). I think he leaves everything to the players because he finds out the potential of every player. He always asked me to keep practising my strengths, gain confidence in practice and deliver in the matches. That’s what I tried to do,” Gurjapneet said on the sidelines of his TNPL franchise Madurai Panthers’ jersey launch event.

The 27-year-old also highlighted the understanding between Fleming and M.S. Dhoni, saying the duo ensured bowlers were used in roles that best suited them.

As the hunt for Chennai Super Kings’ new head coach is underway, there is a lot of speculation about who will take over from Stephen Fleming. Former CSK player Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan reckons that it would be ideal to promote someone from within the set-up, saying that Michael Hussey could be the right man for the job.

“The big question for the management is: do they want someone similar to Fleming or do they want to go in a new direction? Someone like Brendon McCullum who is more flamboyant and will embrace a high-risk approach,” said Vidyut. “More importantly, the new coach has to align with MS Dhoni’s thought process.”

Vidyut felt that in Hussey, CSK has a coach who is well-respected and understands the IPL ecosystem. “Hussey can be the head coach, but they can get some fresh support staff. He will understand what the team needs and is somebody who has evolved very well with the times. He has been in the system for a long time.”

The former TN opener, who has also been a scout for Super Kings, opined that the franchise could do well with having a Director of Cricket who works through the year. “CSK needs someone like Mo Bobat (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)… someone responsible for identifying the right talent and getting the best squad in the auction because the auction dynamics are very different to coaching,” he added. “In recent years, the other teams have been braver in all aspects, and CSK needs to be more dynamic in its approach.”

All praise

Talking about Fleming’s legacy, Vidyut heaped praise on the New Zealander.

“I remember the first year when he was just a player; after I got out pulling Glenn McGrath, he threw down 60 to 70 balls before the reverse fixture in Delhi to help me improve my pull shot on the front foot. That showed how much he was ready to help. Even when he became a coach, he ensured that he backed the players and did so not just by words but by action. Fleming and Dhoni ensured the team atmosphere was always good,” said Vidyut.

Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Indian veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes CSK should begin planning beyond Stephen Fleming’s long tenure as head coach, saying the franchise has reached a stage where it needs a fresh direction.

On Tuesday, CSK and Fleming decided to mutually part ways, bringing to a close one of the most successful and enduring partnerships in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Ashwin stressed that if Dhoni is willing to take up the coaching role, he would be the ideal successor given his deep understanding of the team and his successful partnership with Fleming over the years.

Ashwin also noted that any new coach would face uncertainty because Dhoni remains an influential figure within the franchise and continues to play a significant role in discussions surrounding team selection and decision-making.

“Fleming really understood what ticked [MS] Dhoni, and Dhoni understood that Fleming was a great lieutenant, and that partnership carried on for such a long time. I would say it was about time Chennai Super Kings looked beyond,” Ashwin said as per ESPNcricinfo.

“If Dhoni is willing to do that [take over as coach], there is no better person that Chennai Super Kings can go after. If not, they need to find someone who will be able to operate independently and take accountability for his or her own actions.” I think there is a small aspect of uncertainty for anybody who will walk into that dressing room. Mahendra Singh Dhoni is a huge name, and he’s still very much a part of the discussion when you’re talking about a squad that will be picked to play,” Ashwin added.

Fleming joined CSK as a player in the IPL’s inaugural year (2008) and took over as head coach from 2009. Over the next 17 years, the association built one of the most respected and consistent set-ups in franchise cricket.

Under Fleming, CSK has won five IPL trophies as well as 2 Champions League Twenty20 tournaments. The team has entered the playoffs a record 12 times, while also being part of 10 IPL finals.

Since its inception in 2008, Chennai Super Kings has been one of the most popular sporting franchises in the world with a global fanbase.

In a bid to promote grassroots cricket, CSK — the joint-most successful team in the IPL — opened the Super Kings Academy (SKA) in 2022 to train the next generation of players who could one day represent the franchise and country.

What started with just two centres four years ago has grown rapidly and the academy is set to unveil its 50th centre soon. Apart from India, the Super Kings Academy is present in the USA (11 centres), Australia, Singapore (2 centres) and Canada. There are plans to open one in Qatar as well.

“When we started these academies, we wanted to create good infrastructure, especially in districts (in TN) with proper turf pitches. Most of our centres have floodlights, so the kids can come after school to train. We have a common curriculum and well-trained coaches,” said Louis Mariano, Director of Cricket, SKA.

Sriram Krishnamurthy, global head coach at SKA, felt that one of the USPs was the exchange programmes. “An Arya Ganesh (TN under-16 player) gets to face Matt Fisher (New Zealand), who bowls at 150 kph, which he won’t get otherwise. When our girls’ team beat the West Indies-A women’s team, it gave the side huge confidence. Those are the intangibles,” said Sriram.

The spurt in interest among girls has surprised those at the academy. G. Kamalini, who was part of the India under-19 World Cup-winning squad, is one of the biggest success stories to have come out of SKA. Mariano hopes that there will be more.

For both Mariano and Sriram, the landmark is more about a sense of responsibility than success. They are keen to ensure that they don’t compromise on quality as the academy looks to convert it into a century.

Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has been fined after his team maintained a slow over-rate during their IPL match against Gujarat Titans.

Gujarat Titans sealed a top-two finish in the IPL playoffs with a commanding 89-run victory over Chennai Super Kings in their final league match in Ahmedabad on Thursday (May 21, 2026).

The defeat also ended the five-time champions’ slim hopes of qualifying for the last four.

“As this was his team’s second offence (first offence in Match 18) of the season under Article 2.22 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct, which pertains to minimum over-rate offences, Gaikwad was fined ₹24 lakhs,” said an IPL media advisory issued on Friday (May 22, 2026).

The remaining members of the Playing XI, including the Impact Player, have been fined either ₹6 lakh or 25% of their respective match fees, whichever is lower.

Chennai Super Kings’ yellow outnumbered Gujarat Titans’ cosmic blue in the Narendra Modi Stadium stands, but it was the home team that handsomely outscored the visiting side on Thursday (May 21, 2026).

GT’s 89-run victory not only brightened its Qualifier 1 chances but also knocked out the five-time champion from IPL 2026.

True to its form and fame, the Titans top-order delivered the goods. Sai Sudharsan (84, 53b, 7×4, 4×6), Shubman Gill (64, 37b, 7×4, 3×6), and Jos Buttler (57 n.o., 27b, 5×4, 4×6) displayed batsmanship of the highest order as the hosts amassed 229 for four.

The GT openers began with their typical elegance, hitting the first six only in the last over of the PowerPlay. The second phase of the innings, however, had more power-hitting. While Gill’s first six off Noor Ahmad placed him in the 6000-run club in T20s, the second maximum off the Afghan spinner signalled the GT captain’s 23-ball half-century.

Gurjapneet Singh could have removed Gill had CSK gone for a review for caught-behind. The Super Kings players’ reaction when replays confirmed that the 26-year-old had caught an edge encompassed the story of the match.

Sai Sudharsan quickly shifted gears as GT reached the 100-run mark in the 10th over. It was also the 10th time Sai Sudharsan and Gill breached the three-figure barrier as partners, putting them level with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru duo of Virat Kohli and A.B. de Villiers for most 100-plus stands in the IPL.

Gill’s departure in the 13th over did not affect the scoring rate. In fact, Buttler only enhanced it; his brutal range-hitting provided the finishing kick to GT’s innings.

The run-chase — which started with Super Kings being reduced to 29 for three inside three overs and 63 for five in seven — was virtually non-existent before Shivam Dube’s 17-ball 47 (4×4, 4×6) injected some life into the pursuit.

However, once Dube was sent back by Rashid Khan with the scoreboard reading 116 for six, CSK’s fate was all but sealed. The early damage inflicted by Mohammed Siraj (three for 26) and Kagiso Rabada (three for 32) proved too much as the Chennai outfit was bundled out for 140.

Gujarat Titans’ fabulous five-match winning run may have come to an end with its 29-run loss against Kolkata Knight Riders. But Shubman Gill & Co. can take heart from the fact that they are playing their final IPL 2026 league fixture — after having already qualified for the playoffs — against Chennai Super Kings, the very same team they dismantled to kick off the hot streak.

The landscape has shifted considerably since GT and CSK last met in Chennai on April 26, when both teams had six points after seven games each.

While GT (13 games, 16 points) has given itself a legitimate chance of making the cut for Qualifier 1, the five-time champion’s hit-and-miss campaign (13 matches, 12 points) has resulted in it needing an NRR-boosting victory and many other results going its way to sneak into the knockouts.

Armed with a lethal pace battery and a three-game winning streak at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Titans will hold the edge over Super Kings when they meet in Ahmedabad on Thursday (May 21, 2026).

No other team’s fast bowlers have taken more wickets at any venue this season than GT’s seamers in Ahmedabad. With 42 scalps at an average of 17.69 and economy of 8.12, Titans’ speed merchants should be given due credit for their bullish run.

CSK batting coach Michael Hussey is aware of the challenge and wants his pacers to trust their individuality.

“There’s no point in trying to bowl like Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj or Jason Holder. They might be a different type of bowler. The most important thing is to bowl to your strengths. The pitch here has provided good pace and bounce, and GT has played it well. Our bowlers, too, will enjoy bowling here. However, it’s important that we don’t try to be like them,” Hussey said on Wednesday.

The ball is in the players’ court now.

When Chennai Super Kings set foot at the MAC Stadium for one last time this IPL season to take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai on Monday (May 18, 2026), there will be heightened expectations for more than one reason.

Even as CSK looks to maximise its home advantage in a must-win encounter, there is curiosity over whether M.S. Dhoni will take the centre stage at the ‘Den’ for the first time in IPL 2026. Having earned six victories, Super Kings need to win the final two matches and hope a few other results go their way to keep playoff hopes alive.

The five-time champion comes into the fixture on the back of a crushing seven-wicket loss to Lucknow Super Giants in Lucknow on Friday (May 15, 2026). The Super Kings, however, won’t dwell much on the defeat.

It was a rare off day for a bowling attack that has otherwise punched above its weight and been key to the side’s success so far. In the batting department, Shivam Dube got some much-needed runs in Lucknow, and his form should bolster the middle-order.

CSK may have to revisit its strategy of using three left-arm seamers — as it deployed against LSG — which makes the bowling attack one-dimensional. Whether the team brings in Akeal Hosein, considering Sunrisers’ marauding left-handed top three of Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head and Ishan Kishan, remains to be seen.

The Hyderabad outfit heads into the game following an 82-run defeat against the Gujarat Titans, in which it was bowled out for 86 on a pace-friendly pitch in Ahmedabad. CSK will hope to take some cues from that game and might pray for a surface that grips enough to unsettle the SRH batters.

Given the contrasting approaches of the teams, the stage is set for an exciting southern contest. Can Ruturaj Gaikwad’s men sign off in style at their backyard?