New CSK Assistant Coach Gareth Batty's First Message After Joining Ex-IPL Champions
Gareth Batty, who guided Surrey to three consecutive County Championship titles between 2022 and 2024, will leave the English county side to join Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as an assistant coach
Gareth Batty, who guided Surrey to three consecutive County Championship titles between 2022 and 2024, will leave the English county side to join Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as an assistant coach, where he will work alongside Super Kings head coach Zaheer Khan. Batty, 49, took charge as Surrey's head coach in 2021, immediately after ending his playing career with the club. Under his leadership, Surrey secured three successive County Championship titles from 2022 to 2024 before finishing as runners-up to Nottinghamshire in 2025.
However, Surrey endured a difficult campaign this season, flirting with relegation in the final rounds of the County Championship before eventually finishing seventh. The team also failed to reach the latter stages of either the T20 Blast or the One-Day Cup.
Head Coach Gareth Batty is to leave the Club to take up a role with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. The Club would like to thank Gareth for overseeing a highly successful period in its history. As Head Coach, Surrey won three County Championship titles in a row from 2022-2024. https://t.co/PHJOYgB1qV
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) October 26, 2026
Batty's move to CSK comes after his recent involvement in franchise cricket. He served as an assistant coach at Oval Invincibles during their title-winning campaign in 2025 before joining MI London, affiliated with Mumbai Indians, for this year's rebranded competition, according to Cricinfo.
Gareth Batty's departing quotes. 💬 https://t.co/LEeYWjVy3r
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) October 26, 2026
Batty's departure brings an end to his 21-year association with Surrey. He first represented the club from 1998 to 2001 before returning in 2010. In addition to his coaching responsibilities, he served as Surrey's captain from 2015 to 2017 before handing over the role to current incumbent Rory Burns.
"Thank you hardly seems enough for all that Surrey has meant to me," Batty said in a statement, as quoted by Cricinfo. "It has been a privilege to serve this great club, to share in its successes and challenges. This new journey with CSK in the IPL is a very exciting one for my family and me, and I'm looking forward to getting started."
The changes follow the departure of long-serving CSK head coach Stephen Fleming and the subsequent exits of assistants Eric Simons and James Foster.
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