Gareth Batty Joins Chennai Super Kings as Assistant Coach

Gareth Batty's New Role with Chennai Super Kings

Gareth Batty, who led Surrey to three consecutive County Championship victories from 2022 to 2024, is set to leave his position with the English County team to take on the role of assistant coach for the Indian Premier League (IPL) team Chennai Super Kings (CSK). He will collaborate with head coach Zaheer Khan, as reported by a sports news outlet.

At 49 years old, Batty became Surrey's head coach in 2021, right after concluding his playing career with the club. Under his guidance, Surrey achieved three consecutive County Championship titles between 2022 and 2024, finishing as runners-up to Nottinghamshire in 2025. However, this season proved challenging, as the team faced relegation threats before ultimately placing seventh in the County Championship. Additionally, they did not advance far in either the T20 Blast or the One-Day Cup.

Batty's Transition to Franchise Cricket

Batty's transition to CSK follows his recent experience in franchise cricket. He was an assistant coach for the Oval Invincibles during their championship-winning season in 2025 and later joined MI London, which is associated with the Mumbai Indians, for the current rebranded competition.

His move marks the end of a 21-year relationship with Surrey, where he initially played from 1998 to 2001 and returned in 2010. Alongside his coaching duties, Batty captained Surrey from 2015 to 2017 before passing the captaincy to Rory Burns.

"I cannot express enough gratitude for what Surrey has meant to me," Batty stated. "Serving this remarkable club and sharing in its triumphs and trials has been a privilege. The new journey with CSK in the IPL is incredibly exciting for my family and me, and I am eager to get started."

These changes come after the appointment of former CSK head coach Stephen Fleming to the England Test team, along with the hiring of assistants Eric Simons and James Foster.