Stephen Fleming Parts Ways with Chennai Super Kings After 18 Years

Stephen Fleming is no longer head coach of Chennai Super Kings. The franchise announced on Monday, 13 July, that the two sides had agreed by mutual consent to end an association that has defined the club, following talks about its direction ahead of IPL 2027. No successor has been named yet.

Fleming thanked the franchise in his farewell message, saying that 18 years had been a privilege and that he was proud of what the group had achieved, through both celebrations and tough spells. He added that he would keep supporting the team from afar.

A trophy-laden tenure

Fleming’s time at the helm is widely seen as one of the most successful in franchise cricket. With MS Dhoni as captain, CSK won the IPL in 2010 and retained it in 2011, becoming the first side to win back-to-back titles. The Super Kings also took the Champions League T20 in 2010 and 2014.

After a two-year suspension of the franchise, Fleming oversaw a revival that brought the 2018 title. CSK added further trophies in 2021 and 2023, bringing their total to five IPL championships.

Recent struggles

Results have been harder to come by since Ruturaj Gaikwad succeeded Dhoni as captain. The team has been unable to reproduce its earlier dominance, prompting questions about whether a new direction was needed, and the parting of ways followed.

CEO Kasi Viswanathan praised the New Zealander for shaping the identity of the club, saying he had built a culture of consistency, humility and putting the team first, and that his influence reached well beyond the field.

With a golden era closing, Chennai Super Kings must now find a new head coach as they plan the next phase of their history.