With just days left before the start of IPL 2026, teams are making final adjustments off the field while preparing for another exciting season of the tournament. Two former champions, Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders, have made notable decisions ahead of the new campaign.
CSK have strengthened their coaching setup by appointing former England wicketkeeper James Foster as their new fielding coach. Meanwhile, KKR have decided not to sign replacements for their injured fast bowlers Harshit Rana and Matheesha Pathirana, showing confidence in their existing squad depth.
Foster Joins CSK Coaching Setup
Foster will join the CSK support staff and work under head coach Stephen Fleming. The former England international brings years of coaching experience from different franchise leagues and international teams.
CSK will begin their IPL 2026 campaign with an away match against Rajasthan Royals on March 29. Foster’s addition is expected to strengthen the team’s fielding unit as the five-time champions look to start the season strongly.
During his playing career, Foster represented England national cricket team in 23 international matches between 2001 and 2009. After retiring from professional cricket in 2018, he quickly moved into coaching and built a solid reputation in franchise cricket.
Recently, Foster guided Desert Vipers to the title in the International League T20 as head coach. He has also been appointed assistant coach of Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred, further highlighting his growing presence in global T20 leagues.
Interestingly, Foster is not entirely new to the IPL environment. He previously worked with Kolkata Knight Riders as both a fielding and assistant coach for several seasons.
At CSK, he will collaborate closely with batting coach Michael Hussey and bowling coach Eric Simons, forming an experienced coaching group.
KKR Decide Against Injury Replacements
While CSK have strengthened their support staff, KKR have made a strategic decision regarding their squad. The defending champions have opted not to bring in replacements for injured pacers Harshit Rana and Matheesha Pathirana.
Rana was forced to pull out of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup due to a knee injury and later underwent surgery. Because of the recovery period required, he is expected to miss the IPL 2026 season.
Despite his absence, KKR believe they have enough bowling options within their squad. The team still has several Indian fast bowlers available, including Vaibhav Arora, Umran Malik, Kartik Tyagi, and Akash Deep.
Pathirana’s situation is slightly different. The Sri Lankan pacer suffered an injury during the T20 World Cup and had to leave the tournament midway. After being bought for a hefty ₹18 crore at the IPL auction, he is likely to miss the first half of IPL 2026.
However, KKR remain optimistic that he could regain full fitness later in the season. Because of this possibility, the franchise has decided not to sign an overseas replacement for now.
IPL 2026 Set to Begin Soon
The Indian Premier League 2026 season will officially begin on March 28. The opening match will see Royal Challengers Bengaluru host Sunrisers Hyderabad at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
With teams finalizing preparations both on and off the field, fans can expect another thrilling season filled with intense rivalries, big performances, and unforgettable moments.