Newly appointed Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Zaheer Khan said on Friday that being at the helm of the five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions is a privilege which comes with immense responsibility, adding that filling the shoes of outgoing coach Stephen Fleming will be an exciting yet challenging task for him. His immediate task will be to chalk out a strategy for the mini auction, to be held in Goa in December this year. Zaheer, the former Indian left-arm fast bowler, was named as the new CSK head coach on Monday for IPL 2027.
Newly appointed Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Zaheer Khan said on Friday that being at the helm of the five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions is a privilege which comes with immense responsibility.
Zaheer said on the franchise’s official YouTube channel on Friday. “The feeling is still sinking in, I would say. So much love and affection being shown towards me by the fans, by the well-wishers — looking ahead to this special chapter in my cricketing career. It always feels very satisfying and a lot of pressure as well at the same time of responsibilities which I’ll be carrying since you’re talking about CSK, isn’t it? “It’s a franchise which has the legacy, rich history of cricket and big shoes to fill in. “We want you — if you’re available or not; the availability was checked. It would be a privilege and an honour. From then on, it was just about taking things forward and moving on with the formalities. It was as simple as that, and that gives me a lot of confidence stepping into this responsibility. “The cricket ground was in a school facility. So, a lot of buzz in that area, and I did play a lot of league cricket there in Chennai. So, over the years, around that time, I was part of the MRF team. The Globe Trotters in the local league — so, good and fond memories, lots of connections and friends there,” he recalled. “The team and the fans look like a big family, and the togetherness is very special, and that’s what everyone experiences when they come to Chepauk and enjoy the game of cricket. So, looking forward to all the love and adulation which this team will get as we move along.”
Because it’s just about taking the team to the level which everyone expects them to be and that’s something which I’m looking forward to,” the former India speedster added, so that’s something which is going to be very challenging — at the same time, exciting as well. Describing the appointment process, Zaheer, a member of the 2011 ODI World Cup-winning team, praised the franchise’s clarity in the process of appointing him to the role and showing trust in his coaching abilities.
I said, yeah, I would love to be part of it.
