Mohammad Kaif has welcomed the decision of Zaheer Khan becoming the head coach of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for the IPL 2027 season. He also stated that the former India pacer will have a point to prove that he deserves the position, especially after his poor stint as Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) mentor.
Zaheer Khan previously served as director of cricket and global head of development for the Mumbai Indians from 2018 to 2022. He was mentor of the LSG franchise in IPL 2025, but the team finished seventh in the points table.
Additionally, Kaif pointed out that there was a lot of backing from MS Dhoni to the ex-coach, Stephen Fleming, because of his position as a player in the XI, which Zaheer may not have.
"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 on his YouTube channel.
The CSK team has struggled in the past three IPL seasons, even finishing 10th in one IPL. The five-time IPL champions last won the title in IPL 2023, defeating Gujarat Titans in the final.
According to Mohammad Kaif, the pressure would be enormous for Zaheer Khan because of the legacy of CSK; hence, he would need to turn things around for the better. But Kaif approved the appointment of an Indian as the coach since this does not happen in the IPL most of the time.
Furthermore, Kaif supported Zaheer because of the former’s experience as a player and coach in the league.
"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 had played for Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and Mumbai Indians (MI) as a player.
