Chennai Super Kings are facing an important coaching decision after Stephen Fleming’s departure and former CSK all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has suggested two possible ways the franchise could move forward.
Ashwin believes former England captain Eoin Morgan could be a strong candidate for the job. However, he also feels that MS Dhoni could take charge in a caretaker capacity for a year before CSK appoints a permanent coach.
Eoin Morgan does not have top-level coaching experience but he is widely regarded as an excellent cricket strategist. As England’s ODI captain, he played a major role in transforming the team’s fortunes and eventually led them to the 2019 World Cup title.
Eoin Morgan also captained Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL final in 2021. His aggressive approach to building and shaping the team received considerable praise. At present, Eoin Morgan is also part of the board of directors of The Hundred franchise London Spirit.
Ashwin said on his YouTube channel that Eoin Morgan’s name is being discussed strongly for the CSK position and suggested that early conversations may already be taking place. He outlined two possibilities: Eoin Morgan could take over immediately or another person could oversee the team-building process during the mini-auction before Eoin Morgan takes charge later.
Another name reportedly being considered is Brendon McCullum but Ashwin believes his existing responsibilities with England could make the move complicated. Brendon McCullum is currently involved with England’s ODI and T20I teams. Although the England and Wales Cricket Board appears willing to allow its head coach to take up IPL opportunities, Ashwin pointed out that the situation may not be simple with the 2027 ODI World Cup now just over a year away.
Ashwin also claimed that Eoin Morgan has attracted interest from other IPL franchises but has been turning down offers.
For CSK, MS Dhoni remains a hugely influential figure. As the captain who guided the franchise to five IPL titles, his opinion continues to carry enormous weight and any major coaching appointment would need his approval.
Ashwin believes CSK needs someone to take responsibility during this important period, particularly while trade discussions are taking place. That responsibility could fall either to captain Ruturaj Gaikwad or to a newly appointed head coach.
However, Ashwin also suggested a third possibility: CSK may not make a formal coaching appointment immediately. According to his view, MS Dhoni could effectively guide the team for another year in an informal or caretaker role. This would give the franchise time to prepare for the next major phase before bringing in someone such as Eoin Morgan ahead of the IPL 2028 mega auction.
Ashwin feels Dhoni’s leadership could allow the rest of the CSK setup to work together smoothly during the transition. He compared the process to the spreading shoots of a banyan tree, suggesting that different members of the team could collectively take responsibility under Dhoni’s guidance.
His strongest belief is that Dhoni could continue leading the setup for at least the next year because the timing of a new coaching appointment may not be ideal, especially with the mega auction only a year away.
For now, CSK appears to have several possibilities on the table: Eoin Morgan taking charge immediately, another coach overseeing the short-term transition or Dhoni informally guiding the franchise for another season before a permanent appointment is made.
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