IPL 2027: Gareth Batty likely to join CSK's support staff | EXCLUSIVE

NEW DELHI: Former England off-spinner Gareth Batty is likely to join Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) support staff as batting coach, TimesofIndia.com has learnt. It is also reliably learnt that the 49-year-old shares a good rapport with CSK head coach Zaheer Khan, dating back to their playing days at Worcestershire.

"We are in discussions with him. The negotiations are underway, and an announcement is likely in a couple of days," CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan told TimesofIndia.com. Batty, who has played nine Tests, 10 ODIs and one T20I for England, is currently the head coach of Surrey in the County Championship. He guided Surrey to three consecutive Championship titles before the team finished second last year. During his tenure, several Surrey players earned Test call-ups, including Gus Atkinson, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope and Jamie Smith. CSK have endured a difficult run in the IPL in recent years. They have failed to reach the playoffs since winning the title in 2023, MS Dhoni's final season as full-time captain. A bottom-place finish in 2025 prompted the franchise to rethink its approach.

Last month, CSK appointed former India fast bowler Zaheer Khan as the team's head coach for IPL 2027. He succeeded Stephen Fleming, who had held the role for 16 years and guided the franchise to five IPL titles. As reported earlier by TimesofIndia.com, former India pacer Mohit Sharma is also set to join Zaheer's support staff as bowling coach. CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan confirmed the development.

"Mohit will join CSK as our new bowling coach. His name was recommended by our head coach Zaheer Khan. Mohit was tremendous with us as a player as well, and we hope he will do a great job as bowling coach," Viswanathan had told TimesofIndia.com.