BREAKING: Former England cricketer, who toured India in 2016, appointed CSK assistant coach for IPL 2027 - Reports

Five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have reportedly appointed former England spinner Gareth Batty as their assistant coach ahead of the 2027 season.

Batty, 49, steps into the role after a highly decorated tenure as head coach of English county side Surrey. He took the helm at The Oval in 2022 and guided Surrey to three consecutive County Championship Division One titles from 2022 to 2024, becoming the first side in nearly six decades to complete a hat-trick of championship triumphs. Surrey followed that run by finishing runners-up in 2025.

The move marks Batty’s coaching debut in the IPL, bringing an end to his long-standing association with Surrey as both a player and mentor.

Before transitioning to coaching, the off-spinner represented England across all three formats, featuring in nine Tests, 10 One-Day Internationals, and a solitary T20 International between 2002 and 2016.

Batty earned an unexpected recall to England’s Test squad for their tour of India in late 2016 at the age of 39. During that tour, he played in the third Test in Mohali, which proved to be his final international appearance. He went wicketless in the match, recording bowling figures of 0‑47 in the first innings and 0‑18 in the second as India secured an eight-wicket victory.

Batty now brings his red-ball tactical pedigree and championship-winning dressing-room culture to Chennai, where he will reinforce the franchise's coaching staff for their 2027 campaign.

Former CSK captain MS Dhoni opens up about his future in the IPL

Former CSK captain MS Dhoni has opened up about his IPL future, setting a timeline to decide whether he will return for the 2027 season.

Speaking at a healthcare event in Bengaluru, the 45-year-old revealed that his decision hinges on medical evaluations after enduring persistent physical setbacks.

"I will have to go through the test," Dhoni said. "You will have to give me the report, and then before December, I will have to see how strong I am to maybe play one more season. And if I am not, then you will have to make sure you do everything right to get this old vintage vehicle running smoothly on the road."

Physical ailments have severely hampered the veteran wicketkeeper in recent campaigns. After playing all 14 matches while managing lingering knee troubles during the 2025 season, Dhoni missed the entirety of the 2026 edition after suffering a recurring calf strain.

CSK will receive clarity on his availability before the IPL retention deadline in December.

Looking for fast live cricket scores? Download CricRocket and get fast score updates, top-notch commentary in-depth match stats & much more! 🚀☄️