Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif has shed light on Zaheer Khan’s appointment as CSK head coach ahead of IPL 2027. Kaif said Khan will need to prove that he deserves the role of the head coach. 

Khan was named as CSK’s head coach on Monday on a one-year contract, with an option to extend the deal in the future.

Khan doesn’t have any head coach experience, but he has served as Mumbai Indians’ Director of Cricket Operations ahead of IPL 2019, before becoming their head of global development.

More recently, he was named Lucknow Super Giants’ mentor for IPL 2025 but didn’t continue in the next season.

“Zaheer worked at LSG but could not get the desired results. So he also has a point to prove that he deserves it. He will want to improve his image. He will also handle a team that has been losing and where Dhoni’s role as a player is now equal to zero. Fleming had that advantage. So it will be challenging for Zaheer. But it will be interesting. Dhoni and Zaheer have also played together and are old friends,” Kaif said in a video on his YouTube channel.

The former UP batter said Zaheer Khan will have the pressure of joining a big team in the IPL. CSK is the joint-most successful team in the IPL history with five titles.

“CSK has a legacy, and being a part of the team is a proud moment in itself. But when you join a big team, there is pressure as well. There is responsibility and expectations. The fans will expect that Zaheer will change things that have not worked in the last few years. He does have experience working in the IPL. He has played as well. He is well equipped in every way. I think it is a very good call to get an experienced Indian coach. Usually, foreign coaches get preference, but it is good that Indian coaches are being backed,” he said.

Zaheer Khan scalped 102 wickets in 100 IPL matches while playing for RCB, MI and DC.