Since the departure of Stephen Fleming as head coach last month, five-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have been without a head coach. The Chennai franchise has not announced the head coach at present, with names like Dinesh Karthik and Eoin Morgan being pushed by veterans.
Fleming joined CSK in 2008 and became the head coach of the team the very next season, in 2009. Under his coaching, coupled with MS Dhoni’s captaincy, the Super Kings won five IPL titles.
However, after a couple of disappointing seasons, Fleming stepped down. Matthew Hayden described the decision as a bold one while praising the partnership between Fleming and MS Dhoni.
Moreover, in the most recent edition, 2026, with Dhoni not playing a single match, the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led side finished eighth in the points table.
Hayden backs Dinesh Karthik as ‘perfect’ coach for Chennai Super Kings
Hayden has backed Karthik for the job, saying his local connection and recent coaching success make him an ideal candidate.
Hayden, who played for CSK between 2008 and 2011, feels the franchise should look closer to home while choosing Fleming’s replacement.
Along the same lines, in this article, let’s explore Dinesh Karthik’s credentials as a coach and captain, as well as his local connection to the Chennai-based CSK.
Which teams has Dinesh Karthik coached?
In 2024, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) named Dinesh Karthik as the batting coach and mentor. Karthik was part of the RCB squad as a player until IPL 2024, before retiring from all forms of competitive cricket at the end of the season.
Ahead of that, as for his coaching experience, Karthik briefly joined the England Lions coaching staff when they toured India in January earlier that year. He assisted the England Lions' preparations after being included in the squad's coaching set-up for the first nine days of the tour.
At RCB, Karthik works alongside Head Coach Andy Flower, Bowling Coach Adam Griffith, and Director of Cricket Mo Bobat.
In 2025, Karthik also joined the Men's Hundred team, London Spirit, in the same capacity as at RCB, marking his first support-staff role with a franchise outside the IPL.
Dinesh Karthik’s Coaching Stats
Under Karthik’s mentorship, RCB secured back-to-back IPL championships in 2025 and 2026 and transformed their batting lineup into a dynamic unit.
According to interviews shared by the franchise, Karthik helped every batter understand their exact role and position in various match scenarios.
In the 19th edition, the team pulled off the fastest 200-plus chase in IPL history against Sunrisers Hyderabad, chasing down the 202-run target in just 15.4 overs, a performance that highlighted both preparation and execution under pressure.
Statistic
2025
2026
Total
Matches
15
16
31
Won
11
11
22
Lost
4
5
9
Tied/NR
0/0
0/0
0/0
W/L
2.75
2.2
2.444
Average
32.35
36.39
34.39
RPO
9.69
10.48
10.1
Highest Score
230
254
254
Lowest Score
189
155
155
(RCB under Dinesh Karthik's mentorship)*
Statistic
Value
Matches
16
Won
6
Lost
10
Tied/No Result
0/0
W/L
0.6
Average
24.77
RPO
9.16
Innings
16
Highest Score
204
Lowest Score
80
(London Spirit under Dinesh Karthik's mentorship)*
Dinesh Karthik's Captaincy Records
Since Dinesh Karthik is a fresh name in coaching and has had relatively less experience when compared to other players in contention to take up CSK head coach role, it is important to talk about his other aspect of leadership, i.e. Captaincy.
Talking about Karthik’s captaincy record in the IPL, he has led Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) and Kolkata Knight Riders in the cash-rich tournament, guiding these teams to a combined 21 wins and 21 losses in 43 matches across four seasons.
Dinesh Karthik IPL Captaincy stats
Statistic
DD
KKR
Span
2010–2014
2018–2020
Matches
6
37
Won
2
19
Lost
4
17
Tied/Draw/NR
0/0/0
1/0/0
Draw
0
0
No Result
0
0
W/L
0.5
1.11
Win %
33.33
51.35
Dinesh Karthik Captaincy stats for Tamil Nadu
Statistic
List A
T20s
First Class
Span
2009–2023
2007–2021
2008–2012
Matches
41
32
25
Won
31
28
6
Lost
9
4
1
Tied/Draw/NR
0/0/1
0/0/0
0/18/0
W/L
3.44
7
6
Win %
75.6
87.5
24
Karthik started playing cricket in Chennai and went on to represent Tamil Nadu youth teams, evolving into a reliable wicketkeeper-batsman. He has served as captain for Tamil Nadu across various domestic formats, including the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
He has played numerous match-winning knocks for his state side over the decades, guiding Tamil Nadu deep into major domestic tournaments.
Dinesh Karthik as RCB coach (Source: AFP)
