Stephen Fleming has stepped down as Chennai Super Kings head coach, ending an 18-year association that delivered five IPL titles and one of the most successful partnerships in Indian Premier League history.
According to a fresh update from ESPNcricinfo, the franchise confirmed on Monday that the two parties had parted ways mutually, with Chennai Super Kings describing the split as “bringing to a close one of the most successful and enduring partnerships in IPL history”. The announcement comes with Chennai having missed the playoffs in the last three IPL seasons, while the franchise’s Major League Cricket side, Texas Super Kings, finished bottom of the 2026 MLC table.
MS Dhoni And Fleming Delivered Five IPL Titles Before England Links Emerged
Fleming first arrived in Chennai as a player for the inaugural 2008 season before moving into the head coach role in 2009. His alliance with captain MS Dhoni produced IPL titles in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 and 2023, a record 12 playoff qualifications, ten finals and two Champions League T20 crowns. The 53-year-old former New Zealand captain is also ending his ties with the sister franchises Joburg Super Kings and Texas Super Kings.
The timing has not gone unnoticed in England. Fleming’s exit lands barely 24 hours after Brendon McCullum’s departure as England Test head coach, and Sky Sports has already named him among the leading contenders for the vacancy created by the end of the Bazball era.
Whatever Fleming chooses next, Chennai now face a first IPL campaign without him since 2009 — and one of the biggest coaching appointments in franchise cricket.
