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CSK Appoints James Foster as Fielding Coach for IPL 2026 Rebuild

Chennai Super Kings are set to appoint former England wicketkeeper James Foster as their new fielding coach ahead of the IPL 2026 season. The move strengthens the backroom staff led by head coach Stephen Fleming as the franchise looks to rebuild. This follows a disappointing 2025 campaign where CSK finished at the bottom of the points table. The team has already begun its pre-season camp with several players, including MS Dhoni, in attendance.

Key Points: James Foster Joins CSK as Fielding Coach for IPL 2026

  • Foster brings global T20 coaching experience
  • CSK aims to rebound from last-place finish
  • Franchise begins pre-season camp in Chennai
  • Support staff includes Hussey and Simons
2 min read

Former England keeper James Foster set to join CSK as fielding coach for IPL 2026: Report

Former England keeper James Foster appointed as CSK's fielding coach. CSK strengthens backroom staff after disappointing IPL 2025 season.

"We have been looking for a fielding coach. I am hopeful he will join us. - Kasi Viswanathan"

Chennai, March 4

Five-time champions Chennai Super Kings are set to appoint former England wicketkeeper-batter James Foster as their fielding coach ahead of the IPL 2026 season, further strengthening their backroom staff under head coach Stephen Fleming.

Foster, 45, represented England in seven Tests, 11 ODIs and five T20Is between 2001 and 2009. Widely respected for his wicketkeeping skills, he has built a strong reputation as a coach in franchise cricket across the world.

Confirming the development, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan said, "We have been looking for a fielding coach. I am hopeful he will join us," as quoted by Cricbuzz

Foster brings significant experience from various T20 leagues. He has previously served as fielding coach with Kolkata Knight Riders and has also worked with Desert Vipers in the ILT20, the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred, and Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

At CSK, Foster will join an established support staff that includes batting coach Mike Hussey, bowling coach Eric Simons, assistant bowling coach Sridharan Sriram, and fielding coach Rajiv Kumar. Russell Radhakrishnan continues as team manager.

The move comes after a disappointing IPL 2025 campaign in which CSK finished at the bottom of the points table, managing only four wins in 14 matches. The franchise has already begun its pre-season camp at its high-performance centre in Chennai, with several Indian players training.

Veteran wicketkeeper MS Dhoni is among those present at the camp, while players on international duty are expected to join later.

CSK had earlier made headlines with a high-profile trade involving Sanju Samson, as the franchise looks to rebuild and mount a strong comeback in IPL 2026.

CSK has also roped in youngsters like Prashant Veer and Karthik Sharma while leaving their stalwart player Ravindra Jadeja. Ruturaj Gaikwad will continue to lead the team as they aim for their record sixth title.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Interesting to see CSK looking beyond Indian coaches for fielding. Foster's work with KKR was good. But I hope he understands the Chennai heat and conditions! Fielding in Chepauk is a different challenge altogether.
R
Rohit P
With all due respect to Foster's credentials, I'm a bit surprised. We already had Rajiv Kumar as fielding coach. Is this a demotion for him? CSK management should be clear about roles to avoid confusion in the dressing room.
S
Sarah B
As a neutral fan, CSK's backroom staff looks world-class on paper. Fleming, Hussey, Simons, and now Foster. But the proof will be on the field. They have a lot to prove after finishing last. The Samson trade shows they mean business.
K
Karthik V
Good appointment yaar. His wicketkeeping background will be great for Dhoni to bounce ideas off, and for the young keepers in the squad. Fielding wins you close matches, and we lost too many of those in 2025.
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Nikhil C
All these foreign coaches are fine, but the core issue was letting go of Jadeja. He was our best fielder! Hope Foster can groom the youngsters like Prashant Veer quickly. The camp has started, so time to get to work. đź’Ş

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