Gareth Batty is set to join the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) coaching setup as an assistant coach for the 2027 Indian Premier League season. The 48-year-old moves to the franchise after concluding a long-standing 21-year association with Surrey, where he most recently served as head coach. In his new role, Batty will work alongside recently appointed head coach Zaheer Khan.
Batty’s tenure as Surrey’s head coach began in 2022 and was defined by a historic run of success. He led the club to three consecutive County Championship titles between 2022 and 2024, a feat that made Surrey the first team in nearly 60 years to achieve a three-peat. During his five seasons in charge, he also guided the squad to the knockout stages of the Vitality Blast twice, reaching Finals Day on both occasions, while overseeing the progression of several domestic players into the England international setup. Batty, who took charge of Surrey as head coach in 2022, guided them to the County Championship title in his first season before overseeing successful title defences in 2023 and 2024. Capping a dominant run in which they became the first team in nearly 60 years to win three consecutive titles in the competition, surrey finished runners-up in 2025.
Reflecting on his career move, Batty described the opportunity as an exciting journey for both him and his family. He expressed his eagerness to begin working with the IPL franchise. His immediate priority at CSK involves assisting with the player retention process, which carries a deadline of November 15. Following this, he will shift focus to the mini-auction preparations scheduled for mid-December in Goa. Batty’s first objective will be to assist with CSK’s retentions ahead of the November 15 deadline.
Batty’s connection with Surrey dates back to his playing days, starting with a stint from 1998 to 2001 before he returned in 2010. He served as team captain from 2015 to 2017 and transitioned directly into a coaching role following his retirement as a player in 2021. Across his career at Surrey, he appeared in over 350 matches and recorded more than 500 wickets, maintaining his status as the club’s joint-highest T20 wicket-taker. He also made 20 appearances for England across all three formats. After retiring from playing in 2021, immediately joined the coaching staff before taking over as head coach a year later, he captained the side from 2015 to 2017 and.
Surrey’s director of cricket, Alec Stewart, acknowledged the significance of Batty’s departure while praising his leadership during a prolific era for the county. Stewart noted that while the club is disappointed to lose him, the chance to join the CSK hierarchy was an appealing challenge that also offers Batty a better balance for family time outside the IPL window. Stewart specifically lauded Batty’s work ethic and deep understanding of player management, which he credited as central to Surrey’s recent domestic dominance.
