Chennai Super Kings and Stephen Fleming Part Ways After Nearly Two Decades

Chennai Super Kings and Stephen Fleming have parted ways, bringing an end to one of the longest coach-franchise partnerships in IPL history. The Super Kings confirmed the news through an official statement, saying both sides had mutually agreed to end their association.

Fleming's journey with CSK goes all the way back to the very first edition of the IPL in 2008, when he turned out for the franchise as a player. He moved into the dugout the following year and stayed on as head coach right through to now, a stretch that different reports put at either 17 or 18 years depending on how the count is measured. Either way, it stands as one of the most stable coaching tenures anywhere in franchise cricket.

Under Fleming, CSK became the most successful team in IPL history, lifting the trophy five times, in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 and 2023, along with two Champions League T20 titles. His calm, understated style and his long working relationship with MS Dhoni became closely tied to the identity CSK built for itself over the years, one built on consistency and a settled core group of players.

The exit follows a rough patch on the field. CSK have missed the playoffs in three straight seasons, finishing fifth in 2024, bottom of the table in 2025, and eighth in 2026. Talk of a coaching change had been doing the rounds for a while, though earlier reports through the season suggested the franchise was leaning towards keeping him on. That has now changed with this official announcement.

Fleming continues to be involved with two other Super Kings franchises, coaching Texas Super Kings in Major League Cricket and Joburg Super Kings in the SA20, so this isn't a complete exit from the wider Super Kings setup, just from the IPL side of it. CSK are yet to announce who will take over as head coach heading into the next season.