NEW DELHI: Chennai Super Kings are looking for a new head coach after Stephen Fleming ended his long association with the franchise last month. Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden believes the five-time IPL champions should consider a familiar face from Tamil Nadu.Hayden has backed former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik for the job, saying his local connection and recent coaching success make him an ideal candidate.
Hayden backs Karthik
Karthik is currently the batting coach and mentor of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who have won back-to-back IPL titles with him in their support staff.Hayden, who played for CSK between 2008 and 2011, feels the franchise should look closer to home while choosing Fleming’s replacement.“It’s something that I really hope that the franchise gets right. Flemo did a fantastic job with MS Dhoni; that was really such a strong engine room of CSK,” Hayden told Sportstar.“There are names that have been mentioned; one of them was Dinesh Kartik, who I think is probably ready to take on that kind of role. I think it’s important to have a local coach.“I know that a lot of franchises do go for international coaches, but I feel like the head coach role of a franchise as big as CSK should have that kind of local touch, even Chennai touch, which is why I thought Dinesh would be perfect,” the Aussie said.Fleming had been in charge of CSK for close to 16 years and guided the franchise to five IPL titles and two Champions League crowns.However, after a couple of disappointing seasons, Fleming stepped down. Hayden described the decision as a bold one while praising the partnership between Fleming and MS Dhoni.“You can certainly have support staff that aren’t local, but what a shift… [It was] such a beautiful campaign that MS and Flemm had. So much success, equal title holds with Mumbai [Indians], just such a good legacy, but it’s a bold and good move, and I’m looking forward to seeing who gets the job,” he said.
