CSK Name Morkel, Batty Assistant Coaches and Mohit Sharma Bowling Coach for IPL 2027
Chennai Super Kings have announced a revamped support staff ahead of IPL 2027. The franchise confirmed the changes on Tuesday, October 27, through its social media. Albie Morkel and Gareth Batty join as assistant coaches. Mohit Sharma comes in as bowling coach. All three will work under head coach Zaheer Khan.
Morkel and Mohit are both returning to the franchise. Morkel played for CSK from the first IPL season in 2008 until 2013. He scored 827 runs and took 76 wickets in 78 games for the club. He has also been part of the Joburg Super Kings set-up in SA20 since the league began, and was recently named head coach of that franchise. Mohit played for CSK from 2013 to 2019 and took 58 wickets in 48 matches. He later played for Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Titans.
Batty is a former England cricketer and the only one of the three with no playing history at CSK. The club's announcement pointed to his three consecutive County Championship titles and called him a proven leader.
CSK support staff for IPL 2027:
| Role | Name | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Zaheer Khan | New for 2027 |
| Assistant coach | Albie Morkel | New |
| Assistant coach | Gareth Batty | New |
| Assistant coach | Sridharan Sriram | Continues |
| Bowling coach | Mohit Sharma | New |
| Fielding coach | James Foster | Continues |
Sridharan Sriram and James Foster stay on from last season. Foster also holds a coaching role with the England team. AR Srikanth, one of the senior officials at CSK, will continue as well.
CSK also thanked the outgoing members of the support staff. They are Eric Simons, Rajiv Kumar, Tommy Simsek and Michael Hussey. The club had already confirmed Hussey's exit as batting coach. The overhaul follows Stephen Fleming's departure from the club. Fleming has since taken over as England's men's Test head coach.
The changes come ahead of the IPL 2027 mini auction. The tournament is scheduled to run from March 10 to May 15, 2027, with 10 teams playing 74 matches.