Reports: CSK wishlist Hemang Badani as head coach, final call rests with MS Dhoni

Chennai Super Kings have identified Hemang Badani as their preferred candidate for the head coach role, with MS Dhoni's push for an Indian-led support staff driving the shortlisting. The development follows CSK's decision to part ways with Stephen Fleming in July 2026, after the franchise missed the IPL playoffs for a third consecutive season.

CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan has handed the responsibility of finding a new coach to Dhoni. The key condition attached to the search is that the incoming head coach commit exclusively to CSK, with no concurrent engagements in overseas franchise leagues. That requirement creates a direct complication for Badani's candidacy, given his active roles across several competitions.

However, a report by The Indian Express has indicated that CSK ownership is also exploring overseas candidates, and the final decision rests with the ownership rather than Dhoni alone. The situation remains fluid, with Badani's prospects appearing to have reduced as the search has progressed.

Why is Hemang Badani in contention for the CSK role?

Badani's coaching record spans multiple formats and competitions. He served as head coach of Delhi Capitals across the 2025 and 2026 IPL seasons, finishing fifth and sixth, respectively. Away from the IPL, he has claimed titles in the SA20, ILT20 and Lanka Premier League, and his playing career with Tamil Nadu gives him a natural regional connection to Chennai.

His current commitments, however, sit at odds with Dhoni's exclusivity condition. Badani holds head coaching positions with Southern Brave in The Hundred and with Dubai Capitals in the ILT20, and he also serves as a consultant for Seattle Orcas. Any agreement with CSK would require him to step away from all three arrangements before taking charge.

What is the context behind CSK's coaching search?

Fleming's association with CSK stretched back to 2009, a tenure of nearly 18 years. Across that period he guided the franchise to 11 finals spanning the IPL and the Champions League Twenty20, with six titles won in total. His exit in July 2026 brought to a close one of the longest and most successful coach-franchise partnerships in T20 cricket history.

The urgency of the appointment is underlined by CSK's recent league form. The franchise finished 10th in IPL 2025 and 8th in IPL 2026, failing to reach the playoffs in both campaigns. Meanwhile, Albie Morkel has already been confirmed as head coach of Joburg Super Kings for the next season, filling the vacancy created by Fleming's departure from that franchise and signalling that the broader coaching reshuffle is moving quickly. CSK's own appointment is expected to be confirmed in the coming weeks, though no official announcement date has been set.