Indian Premier League (IPL) 2027 is still far off, but the franchises are making changes to their squads, whether through coaches or players via trades. Ahead of the auction, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) announced Zaheer Khan as their new head coach. Now the five-time champions have appointed Albie Morkel as their assistant coach for the forthcoming season.
Chennai Super Kings have not done well in recent times since MS Dhoni stepped down as the captain of the side. They have not been at their best under Ruturaj Gaikwad; in the last three seasons, they have failed to qualify for the playoffs, which has been a concern for the side. Regarding this, they have changed their coaching staff.
Albie Morkel joins CSK as assistant coach
Albie Morkel will join as the deputy to Zaheer Khan. The former South Africa all-rounder has been a part of the franchise in the SA20 as he serves as the head coach of the JoBurg Super Kings (JSK) in the South African league. He is well aware of the franchise’s motto and what they look for from him as the coach.
Albie was previously the assistant coach of JSK while Stephen Fleming was the head coach of the franchise. The franchise parted ways with the former New Zealand captain; the former Proteas was promoted to the head coach role. This showcases the Super Kings’ loyalty towards their very own coaches, former cricketers who have been associated with them for a long period.
The lion behind some of Chepauk’s most unforgettable moments is ready for a new innings! 💛 An OG Super King from 2008, a key member of our back-to-back IPL triumphs in 2010 and 2011! Albie Morkel’s story with the Super Kings continues! Welcome aboard, Albie! 🦁 #WhistlePodu #Yellove
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) October 27, 2026
CSK posted on its social media handle, “The lion behind some of Chepauk’s most unforgettable moments is ready for a new innings! An OG Super King from 2008, a key member of our back-to-back IPL triumphs in 2010 and 2011! Albie Morkel’s story with the Super Kings continues! Welcome aboard, Albie.”
Albie Morkel’s IPL career
Morkel has been associated with the franchise since 2008, as he started as a player and featured for the franchise for five seasons, 2008 to 2013, and was also part of the 2010 and 2011 IPL-winning squad and won several matches for the Men in Yellow during this period, as he was known as one of the hardest hitters.
He played in 78 matches and 75 innings; he picked 76 wickets for the Super Kings. His best bowling figures were 4/32, recorded in the inaugural IPL season. Albie Morkel, with the bat, scored 827 runs in 59 innings across 78 matches, with a highest score of 71, and had a strike rate of nearly 150.
CSK appoint Mohit Sharma as the new bowling coach; Gareth Batty joins as other assistant coach
Apart from Morkel, CSK has appointed former England international Gareth Batty as their other assistant coach. He also has an impressive coaching record, as he, as a head coach, led Surrey County Cricket Club to three County Championship titles (2022–2024).
Former CSK pacer Mohit Sharma will be joining as the bowling coach for the franchise. He has wealth of experience of playing in the IPL and was one of the favourite of MS Dhoni.