Former Indian batter Subramaniam Badrinath has backed Zaheer Khan’s appointment as CSK head coach ahead of IPL 2027. It is expected that former CSK captain MS Dhoni has played a key role in Khan’s appointment and Badrinath said Dhoni’s decision are always well thought out.

While leading India, Dhoni had famously said that Zaheer Khan is the Sachin Tendulkar of India’s bowling.

Meanwhile, Khan doesn’t have any head coach experience, but he has served as Mumbai Indians’ Director of Cricket Operations ahead of IPL 2019, before becoming their head of global development.

More recently, he was named Lucknow Super Giants’ mentor for IPL 2025 but didn’t continue in the next season.

Badrinath said on his YouTube Channel, “It is clear that this decision is backed by MS Dhoni. It surely must have been his recommendation. An accomplished and skillful bowler like Zaheer Khan becoming head coach is a big positive for CSK. Dhoni’s decisions will always be well thought out and often right. I believe this Dhoni-Zaheer partnership will get CSK back to winning ways. They have struggled in the last few seasons, but from next season, they’ll stand tall again under Zaheer.”

The former CSK batter, Badrinath, hailed Zaheer Khan for his attitude, ability and tactical acumen. Badrinath believes Khan deserves the same status as batters like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni.

“What I admired most about him was his ability to give it 100% irrespective of whether it was the old or new ball, a partnership was developing, or if the pitch was flat. I admired his attitude, ability, and tactical acumen. He used to bowl long spells and had great bowling fitness. He must be placed in the same legendary status as Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni,” said Badrinath (via the aforementioned source).

Zaheer Khan scalped 102 wickets in 100 IPL matches while playing for RCB, MI and DC.