R Ashwin reveals former IPL-winning Indian coach was in contention to become CSK coach before Zaheer Khan's appointment

R Ashwin revealed Ashish Nehra was among the names considered for the CSK head coach role.

Two unnamed Indian legends and several foreign candidates were also reportedly in the frame.

Ashwin backed Zaheer Khan's eventual appointment, citing his close relationship with MS Dhoni.

Ashish Nehra was in contention for the role for CSK coach before Zaheer Khan's appointment

Chennai Super Kings' search for a successor to Stephen Fleming was apparently a far more extensive process than the eventual appointment of Zaheer Khan suggested.

R Ashwin, speaking on his YouTube channel, revealed that the franchise held conversations with several candidates before settling on Zaheer, including a fellow former India pacer currently thriving elsewhere in the league.

Fleming departed CSK in July after 18 seasons and five IPL titles, going on to take charge of England's Test team. Zaheer's appointment was confirmed on September 21 on a one-year contract, giving him his first head coach role at franchise level after previous spells as director of cricket for Mumbai Indians and as a mentor at Lucknow Super Giants.

Ashwin, closely associated with CSK across his playing career, suggested the process behind that appointment involved considerably more names than have been publicly reported.

What R Ashwin revealed about Ashish Nehra's candidacy

Ashwin named Nehra as one of the figures discussed for the role. "There have been conversations with several coaches. In fact, if I'm not wrong, I think Ashish Nehra was also at some stage in the frame," Ashwin said.

He was careful to frame Nehra's situation as one of contentment at Gujarat Titans rather than confirming any formal rejection. "Ashish Nehra doesn't need to leave GT. He's running an absolutely successful franchise in GT," Ashwin said .

That framing lines up with Nehra's own record at the franchise. He led Gujarat Titans to the IPL title in their debut season in 2022, becoming the first Indian head coach to win the tournament, and has since guided the side to multiple playoff appearances, including a runners-up finish in 2026.

Ashwin also indicated the search extended well beyond Nehra. "I think there are two other Indian legends whose contracts were also discussed. There were a few foreigners whose contracts were discussed, but the deals couldn't materialise for many reasons," he said, without naming the individuals involved.

He offered some insight into why those foreign discussions stalled. "In some cases, they were not ready to take a one-year contract. In fact, in one case I know well, the deal was almost done, but the issue was that he couldn't work in international tournaments apart from CSK, because of which he could suffer financially," Ashwin said.

Why Ashwin believes Zaheer Khan is the right choice

Despite detailing how extensive the search had been, Ashwin was unequivocal in his support for the eventual outcome. "I think the choice of Zaheer Khan is fabulous. I do not doubt it," Ashwin said. "He ticks all the boxes. Smart man, knows cricket, knows bowling tactics well, and will blend in nicely."

He pointed specifically to Zaheer's relationship with MS Dhoni as a key factor behind the appointment's likely success. "His relationship with Dhoni is very good. Besides, he is an Indian legend who can work with the boys," Ashwin said. "Dhoni and Zaheer Khan's rapport is good. I think you can see the team going in one direction; there won't be a need to pull here and there."

What makes this disclosure notable is less about who CSK didn't hire and more about what it reveals of their process. A franchise willing to explore multiple India greats and international candidates before landing on someone without prior head coaching experience suggests the final call rested heavily on fit and existing relationships rather than pedigree alone.

Given how much weight Ashwin places on the Zaheer-Dhoni dynamic, that appears to have been exactly the deciding factor CSK were looking for.

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