Stephen Fleming Steps Down as Chennai Super Kings Head Coach Chennai Super Kings (CSK) announced on Monday that Stephen Fleming has stepped down as their head coach, marking the end of a 17-year tenure that saw the franchise win five Indian Premier League (IPL) titles and two Champions League T20 (CLT20) trophies. The decision was described as a mutual parting of ways, with the team emphasizing that it was a "successful and enduring partnership" that brought "unforgettable victories" and "memories that will stay with me forever." Fleming’s exit follows a period of mixed results for CSK, including an eighth-place finish in the 2026 IPL and a last-place finish in 2025. Fleming, who joined CSK as a player ahead of the 2008 IPL, took over as head coach the following season and formed a legendary working relationship with captain MS Dhoni. Together, they led CSK to the playoffs a record 12 times, with 10 of those appearances in the final. The team claimed IPL titles in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023, while also securing CLT20 victories in 2010 and 2014. Fleming’s tenure also included navigating challenges such as a two-year ban that disrupted their 2016-2017 season and a dramatic captaincy change in 2023, when Dhoni took over from Ravindra Jadeja midway through the tournament. The decision to end Fleming’s coaching role came shortly after the team’s poor performance in the 2026 IPL, which saw them finish eighth. Fleming had previously hinted at uncertainty about his future, stating that his continued involvement would depend on the "management’s call, not mine." In a farewell statement, Fleming expressed gratitude for his time with CSK, calling it "the privilege of my coaching career" and vowing to "cheer the team on for years to come.#chennai_super_kings #ms_dhoni #stephen_fleming #rupa_gurunath #ks_viswanathan
