Somewhere new chapter has begun for Chennai Super Kings. Just hours after the team confirmed that the legendary head coach Stephen Fleming has resigned, former Indian cricketer Hemang Badani has been selected as the favourite to take over one of the top coaching roles in the Indian Premier League.
Chennai Super Kings senior management is currently reviewing the team’s performance after three consecutive years without a playoff appearance, as per reports. The team has not officially announced Fleming’s successor, but Badani has emerged as the favorite as CSK is in transition.
The move would end one of the IPL’s best coaching eras. Fleming spent 18 years with the franchise, first as a player in the inaugural 2008 season and then as head coach from 2009 onwards. CSK won five IPL titles and made 10 finals during his tenure, and is one of the most consistent teams in the league.
Now Badani’s responsibility for rebuilding the franchise will be.
The former India batter who has been in 40 One-Day Internationals and four Test matches has developed a good track record as a coach. Badani went after retirement from professional cricket and started coaching young players and developed them.
His recent stint with Delhi Capitals has only solidified his credentials. A young group, Badani has guided a number of young players towards becoming reliable IPL performers. His calm approach, tactical awareness and emphasis on youth development are believed to have impressed CSK's management.
The timing of a possible appointment also reflects Chennai's changing priorities. The team has gradually come under criticism for relying on experienced players and its gradual transition to a younger core. The repeated failures to qualify for the IPL playoffs have increased the demand for fresh ideas and this coaching change is one of the most significant decisions in the history of the franchise.
CSK is currently having strategic meetings in Dallas as the head coach is discussed as is the coaching staff as a whole, the report says. The team will make a final decision after having finished the review of its recent seasons.
If appointed, Badani will have huge expectations. Replacing a coach who won five IPL titles and helped to create CSK culture is surely one of the toughest jobs in franchise cricket. But at the same time it will provide a chance to shape the next generation of Chennai Super Kings.
The announcement is yet to be made but the signs point to an amazing transformation at CSK. If Hemang Badani is appointed, he is not only going to replace one of the IPL's greatest coaches but will lead the Yellow Army in the most significant rebuilding phase of the franchise in this era.
