Eoin Morgan has reportedly demanded ₹18 to ₹20 crore to become Chennai Super Kings’ next head coach. According to Rohit Juglan of RevSportz, CSK is not willing to pay that figure.
To put that number in perspective, Stephen Fleming earned ₹4 to 5 crore per season during his tenure at CSK. Fleming delivered five IPL titles across 17 years. Morgan is asking for roughly four times that salary with zero coaching experience at any level.
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Fleming left CSK in July 2026 to take charge of England’s Test team, ending the longest coach-franchise partnership in IPL history. His departure came after CSK finished 10th in 2025 and 8th in 2026, missing the playoffs three consecutive seasons.
Morgan’s case rests entirely on his playing career. He captained England to the 2019 ODI World Cup title, one of the most dramatic finals in cricket history. He led Kolkata Knight Riders to the 2021 IPL final, where they lost to CSK. He retired from all forms of cricket in February 2023.
Since retirement, Morgan has worked as a broadcaster and analyst. He has never held a head coaching position in international cricket or franchise cricket. In 2024, when linked to England’s white-ball coaching job, he said the timing was not right and that he was enjoying commentary.
There is no coaching CV to justify ₹20 crore. No seasons managed. No squads built. No support staff assembled. The demand places Morgan’s price tag above what most IPL franchises spend on their entire coaching setup.
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CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan confirmed the franchise is looking at overseas candidates. He stated the coaching appointment will come before any player trades for IPL 2027. MS Dhoni and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad are both involved in the final decision.
The candidate list extends well beyond Morgan. Michael Hussey, CSK’s longtime batting coach, is available after turning down a full-time England role for a part-time Cricket Australia consultancy. Jonathan Trott has emerged as a strong contender according to recent reports. Matthew Hayden backed Dinesh Karthik on the Wisden podcast, citing his Tamil Nadu roots and mentoring experience at RCB under Andy Flower.
R Ashwin had first flagged Morgan’s name in August 2026, saying on his YouTube channel that Morgan was “strongly linked” to the role. But Ashwin also raised a deeper question about whoever takes the job.
“With Dhoni there, is there a requirement for another alpha?”
R Ashwin, YouTube, August 2026
It is a fair point. Dhoni’s influence at CSK runs deeper than any title. He shapes squad selection, mentors players, and carries authority that no external coach can override. Fleming navigated that dynamic for 17 years because he understood his role within it. Morgan captained England with full control over his setup. That is the opposite of what CSK’s coaching job demands.
🚨 Eoin Morgan Demands ₹20 Crore to Become CSK Head Coach.🚨
CSK have hit the reset button ahead of IPL 2027 and are looking at a complete overhaul of their coaching setup. Mike Hussey is not being considered, while CSK are not entertaining Morgan’s ₹20 crore demand, but… pic.twitter.com/hlqaX507Lb
— Mahi Patel (@Mahi_Patel_07) September 9, 2026
Insider Read
Captaining a World Cup winning side and coaching a franchise are two completely different jobs. A captain reacts to situations on the field, makes tactical calls in real time, and relies on instinct built over years of playing. A coach builds systems over months. A coach designs training programmes, manages egos across a squad of 25, handles support staff hierarchies, and plans for seasons, not matches.
Morgan was an exceptional captain. That is not in dispute. But nothing in his post-retirement career suggests he has done the groundwork that coaching demands. Brendon McCullum coached in franchise leagues before taking the England Test job. Morgan went straight from retirement to the commentary box. Asking ₹20 crore to skip that entire learning curve is not confidence. It is a misread of what the job requires.
CSK’s coaching search is not short on options. What it is short on is time. IPL 2027 planning is underway. The ₹20 crore report, even if the final number is negotiable, tells CSK something important. Morgan sees himself as a premium appointment. CSK needs to decide whether they are hiring a coach or buying a name.
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