The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season is shaping up to be an exciting chapter in the world’s most celebrated T20 cricket league. With the return of the double round-robin format and an expected 84 matches, teams are gearing up with strategic coaching appointments to maximize player performance and adapt to the expanded schedule.
This article provides a comprehensive, up-to-date list of the coaching staff for all 10 IPL teams for the 2026 season, based on confirmed appointments and reliable projections as of July 14, 2025. From seasoned head coaches to specialized assistants, we dive into the key figures steering each franchise toward success.
Why Coaching Staff Matters in IPL 2026
The IPL’s competitive landscape demands top-tier coaching to nurture talent, devise game plans, and manage high-pressure situations. With the 2026 mega auction reshaping team rosters, coaching staff will play a pivotal role in integrating new players and fine-tuning strategies. Below, we detail the confirmed and likely coaching staff for each IPL team, ensuring fans and analysts have the latest information.
IPL 2026 Teams & Coaching Staff Overview
| Team | Head Coach(Salary) | Key Staff Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | Stephen Fleming(4-5cr) | – Michael Hussey (Asst. Head & Batting Coach) – Eric Simons (Bowling Consultant) – Rajiv Kumar (Fielding Coach) –Speculated: Suresh Raina (Batting & Fielding), Dwayne Bravo (Bowling) |
| Delhi Capitals (DC) | Hemang Badani(1.5cr) | – Venugopal Rao (Director of Cricket) – Matthew Mott (Assistant Coach) – Kevin Pietersen (Mentor) – Munaf Patel (Fast Bowling Coach) – Anton Roux, Gnaneswara Rao (Fielding Coaches) – Iqbal Abdullah (Talent Scout) |
| Gujarat Titans (GT) | Ashish Nehra(2.5-3cr) | – Parthiv Patel (Batting Coach) – Vikram Solanki (Director of Cricket) – Aashish Kapoor (Spin Coach) – Naeem Amin (Fast Bowling Coach) – Matthew Wade (Assistant Coach) |
| Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) | Chandrakant Pandit(2cr) | – Dwayne Bravo (Mentor) – Ottis Gibson (Assistant Coach) – Bharat Arun (Bowling Coach)- Carl Crowe (Spin Coach) – Biju George (Scouting Head) – Nathan Leamon (Analyst) |
| Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) | Justin Langer(4cr) | – Zaheer Khan (Mentor) – Lance Klusener, Vijay Dahiya, Rajat Bhatia (Assistant Coaches) – Jonty Rhodes (Fielding Coach) – Pravin Tambe (Spin Coach) |
| Mumbai Indians (MI) | Mahela Jayawardene(4cr) | – Kieron Pollard (Batting Coach) – Lasith Malinga (Bowling Coach) – Paras Mhambrey (Assistant Bowling Coach) – Carl Hopkinson (Fielding Coach) |
| Punjab Kings (PBKS) | Ricky Ponting(3.5cr) | – Brad Haddin (Assistant Coach) – James Hopes (Fast Bowling Coach) – Sunil Joshi (Spin Coach) |
| Rajasthan Royals (RR) | Rahul Dravid(5cr) | – Kumar Sangakkara (Director of Cricket) – Vikram Rathour (Batting Coach) – Shane Bond (Fast Bowling Coach) – Dishant Yagnik (Fielding Coach) – Sairaj Bahutule (Spin Coach) |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) | Andy Flower(3.5cr) | – Dinesh Karthik (Batting Coach & Mentor) – Mo Bobat (Director of Cricket) – Omkar Salvi (Fast Bowling Coach)- Malolan Rangarajan (Spin Coach & Scouting) – Richard Halsall (Fielding Coach) – Freddie Wilde (Analyst) |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | Daniel Vettori(2.5cr) | – Muttiah Muralitharan (Spin Coach) – James Franklin (Fast Bowling Coach) – Ryan Cook (Fielding Coach) – New: Varun Aaron (Bowling Coach) |
SEE ALSO: IPL 2026 Released Players: Full List by Team – CSK, MI, RCB Drop Big Stars
Key Trends in IPL 2026 Coaching
The IPL 2026 coaching landscape reflects a blend of continuity and strategic evolution. Teams like CSK, MI, and RR retain core coaches like Stephen Fleming, Mahela Jayawardene, and Rahul Dravid for stability, while new appointments like Varun Aaron (SRH) and Iqbal Abdullah (DC) signal fresh perspectives.
The mega auction’s impact may prompt further coaching adjustments to align with revamped squads. Additionally, the expanded 84-match schedule underscores the need for specialized roles like analysts and dual fielding coaches to manage player workload and optimize performance.
Who are the head coaches for IPL 2026 teams?
The head coaches for IPL 2026 are:
- CSK – Stephen Fleming
- DC – Hemang Badani
- GT – Ashish Nehra
- KKR – Chandrakant Pandit
- LSG – Justin Langer
- MI – Mahela Jayawardene
- PBKS – Ricky Ponting
- RR – Rahul Dravid
- RCB – Andy Flower
- SRH – Daniel Vettori
Which IPL teams have made coaching changes ahead of IPL 2026?
- Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) added Varun Aaron as a new bowling coach.
- Delhi Capitals (DC) brought in Iqbal Abdullah as Talent Scout.
Is Suresh Raina joining CSK’s coaching team for IPL 2026?
There is speculation on social platforms like X (formerly Twitter) about Suresh Raina joining CSK as a batting and fielding coach, but no official confirmation has been made by the franchise.
Will the IPL 2026 mega auction affect coaching teams?
Yes, the IPL 2026 mega auction may result in some coaching restructures to align with new squads and team strategies. No major shifts have been confirmed yet.
Who is the coach of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in 2026?
Andy Flower is the head coach of RCB for IPL 2026, with Dinesh Karthik serving as batting coach and mentor.
What is Stephen Fleming’s salary as CSK coach?
Stephen Fleming reportedly earns between ₹4 to ₹5 crore as head coach of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2026.
Who is the highest-paid coach in IPL 2026?
Rahul Dravid (RR) and Stephen Fleming (CSK) are among the highest-paid coaches, with salaries around ₹5 crore.
What is the salary of Andy Flower in IPL 2026?
Andy Flower, coach of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), earns around ₹3.5 crore.
Which IPL team has the best coaching setup in 2026?
Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings continue to have the most experienced coaching teams with names like Jayawardene, Malinga, Fleming, and Hussey leading the charge.
Are any former players coaching in IPL 2026?
Yes, several former cricketers are in coaching roles:
- Dinesh Karthik (RCB)
- Muttiah Muralitharan (SRH)
- Zaheer Khan (LSG)
- Ricky Ponting (PBKS)
- Rahul Dravid (RR)
Who is the bowling coach of Mumbai Indians in 2026?
Lasith Malinga is the primary bowling coach of Mumbai Indians, with Paras Mhambrey assisting him.
SEE ALSO: Delhi Premier League: DPL 2025 Start Date, Schedule, Teams, and Auction Details
