After two months and 74 matches, the Raphael International Tournament’s eighteenth season finally concluded. Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally won a trophy, beating Punjab Kings by six runs in the final. The season, in general, had been surprising. While RCB rejoiced, the fortunes of Chennai Super Kings hit a bottom with the team finishing 10th, the worst ever. Other teams had a thin time too, with Sunrisers Hyderabad, who were finalists in 2024, finishing under sixth.
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The coaches came under considerable criticism from players and fans alike, with some franchises pondering making changes in time for the next season. Here are a few teams that would most probably look for a new head coach come IPL 2026:
1. Lucknow Super Giants:
They have had a tough stretch since their entry in 2022, unlike the Gujarat Titans. After hiring Justin Langer, they failed to make the playoffs for two seasons in a row. Rumors have indicated that Zaheer Khan might be released from his role as a mentor, meaning big changes are on the horizon.
2. Kolkata Knight Riders:
KKR is now assessing their future after finishing eighth this season. The fans who once supported head coach Chandrakant Pandit after the 2024 win are now turning against him. It indeed looks that he will be replaced, with Abhishek Nayar being the likely replacement.
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3. Chennai Super Kings:
Since 2009, Stephen Fleming has been a coach for CSK with whom he has guided extremely well to five championship wins. This past season however, with the finish at 10th, the whispers of the need for fresh ideas have cropped up. Suresh Raina’s entry as the batting coach in IPL 2026 is possible, but the club’s roadmap including the role of MS Dhoni still goes around in the dark.
