Zaheer Khan’s CSK add Albie Morkel and Mohit Sharma to staff

Chennai Super Kings have appointed former South Africa international Albie Morkel as assistant coach and former India pacer Mohit Sharma as bowling coach, as head coach Zaheer Khan builds his support staff for IPL 2027.

Zaheer Khan takes over from Stephen Fleming, who served the franchise from 2009 to 2026. The franchise announced the changes on social media.

Who is in and who stays

Tribune India’s report on the appointments also names Gareth Batty as an assistant coach under Zaheer Khan. Fielding coach James Foster and assistant coach Sridharan Sriram will continue in their roles.

Batty’s first task is retention work ahead of the 15 November deadline. He will then help plan the franchise’s approach to the mini auction in Goa in mid-December, according to Outlook India.

Morkel and Mohit’s CSK connection

Both men have played for the franchise. Albie Morkel turned out in 78 IPL matches for CSK between 2008 and 2013, scoring 827 runs and taking 76 wickets. He later played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Delhi Capitals and Rising Pune Supergiant.

Mohit Sharma represented CSK across four IPL seasons between 2013 and 2019, taking 58 wickets in 48 matches. He retired from all forms of cricket in December 2025.

Why the overhaul

CSK won the IPL title in 2023 but finished fifth in 2024, last in 2025 and eighth in 2026. The club hopes the revamped group will put it back in title contention in 2027.

Their last five matches of IPL 2026 brought two wins and three defeats. They beat Delhi Capitals by 8 wickets on 5 May and Lucknow Super Giants by 5 wickets on 10 May. They then lost to Lucknow Super Giants by 7 wickets on 15 May, to Sunrisers Hyderabad by 5 wickets on 18 May and to Gujarat Titans by 89 runs on 21 May.