Former India opener Sadagoppan Ramesh believes Chennai Super Kings have several strong options to replace Stephen Fleming as head coach, but feels VVS Laxman would be the ideal fit for the five-time IPL champions. Ramesh said Laxman’s calm personality, rich experience and ability to guide younger players make him the best candidate to lead CSK into a new phase.
Fleming has been at the heart of CSK’s success for years, first arriving as a player in the IPL’s inaugural season in 2008 before taking over as head coach in 2009. Under his leadership, CSK lifted all five of their IPL titles, including their most recent triumph in 2023. However, the franchise has since missed the playoffs in three consecutive seasons, making a coaching change increasingly likely.
Speaking in an Instagram video, Ramesh said Laxman’s character and experience would fit perfectly into CSK’s team-first culture.
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“Many names are being mentioned as Fleming’s replacement. While options are plenty, VVS Laxman is the best candidate to take over as CSK’s head coach. Among the three main reasons why he will work as CSK coach, the first is that he is a fantastic person,” Sadgoppan Ramesh said.
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He added that Laxman’s presence would benefit the dressing room, describing him as someone who could act as a big brother figure to the players while helping them raise their standards.
“He will be like a big brother to everyone in the team and take them to the next level. The CSK management has always looked at the team like a family. Such a wonderful culture will only get enhanced if Laxman becomes the head coach,” he said.
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Ramesh also pointed out that Laxman already has coaching experience at the highest level, having stepped in as India’s interim head coach on multiple occasions when Rahul Dravid and Gautam Gambhir were unavailable.
Meanwhile, CSK owner Rupa Gurunath has previously credited Fleming as the driving force behind the franchise’s coaching setup and praised the immense role he has played in building Chennai’s success story.
