Chennai Super Kings could be heading for a major change in their coaching setup but former India batter and selector Kris Srikkanth has made it clear who he does not want to see take charge of the franchise.
Kris Srikkanth has ruled out former England captain Eoin Morgan and current England coach Brendon McCullum as possible replacements for Stephen Fleming, who recently ended his remarkable 18-year association with CSK after helping the franchise win five IPL titles.
Eoin Morgan’s name came into the discussion after former CSK spinner Ravichandran Ashwin mentioned him on his YouTube channel. Ashwin suggested that CSK were seriously considering Eoin Morgan for the head coach position and believed he had a strong chance of succeeding Stephen Fleming.
However, Srikkanth strongly disagreed with the idea. He acknowledged Eoin Morgan’s achievements as an England player and captain, including leading England to their 2019 ODI World Cup triumph but said that he was not convinced about Eoin Morgan as a coach.
Srikkanth also pointed to Eoin Morgan’s stint as captain of Kolkata Knight Riders, saying he did not feel the former England skipper achieved enough during that period. He even suggested that Eoin Morgan would be better off continuing his work in commentary rather than taking up the CSK coaching job.
Srikkanth also advised CSK against appointing Brendon McCullum. In his view, the franchise should stay away from both former England captains when deciding on Stephen Fleming’s successor.
Ashwin, meanwhile, suggested that Brendon McCullum was unlikely to take the CSK job. The New Zealander is currently England’s ODI and T20I coach, meaning his potential move to CSK would require significant discussions and compromises from all sides. The timing would also be complicated, with the 2027 ODI World Cup only a year away.
Instead of looking outside the franchise, Srikkanth has backed a familiar face for the role — Michael Hussey, CSK’s current batting coach.
Srikkanth believes Michael Hussey, famously known as ‘Mr. Cricket’, should be the automatic choice to succeed Stephen Fleming. He feels CSK already have someone with enough knowledge of the team and therefore do not need to search elsewhere.
However, Srikkanth believes one major issue must be settled before CSK finalise their next head coach — MS Dhoni’s future.
According to him, the franchise first needs to determine what role Dhoni will have going forward and how much control he wants to retain within the setup. Once Dhoni’s position is clear, Srikkanth believes the rest of CSK’s coaching structure can be decided.
With Stephen Fleming gone after nearly two decades, CSK now face a crucial transition period and the decision over his successor could play a major role in determining the franchise’s next chapter.
Who do you think should be the next coach of CSK?
