The man Virat Kohli has credited with ending his bowling career is now Chennai Super Kings’ new assistant coach. Albie Morkel, the former South Africa all-rounder who once hammered Kohli for 28 runs in an over, is returning to the franchise where he became a feared match-winner.
CSK have continued to spring surprises with their coaching changes. Morkel’s addition brings back a familiar face who helped the team win titles with his powerful finishing and useful seam bowling. This time, his job will be to pass those skills on to the players.
The 28-Run Over That Kohli Could Never Forget
The incident took place at Chepauk on April 12, 2012, during CSK’s IPL match against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Chasing 206, Chennai needed 43 runs from the final two overs. RCB appeared firmly in control when Kohli was handed the ball for the 19th over. Morkel then tore the equation apart.
The six deliveries produced 4, 6, 4, 6, 2, 6 — 28 runs.
Three sixes and two fours suddenly brought the target down to 15 from the final over. Morkel was dismissed for 28 off seven balls, but his assault had reopened a contest that looked beyond Chennai. CSK completed the chase off the last ball and won by five wickets.
Kohli later joked that Morkel had ended his bowling career. That unforgettable over is the connection behind the description, and the same destructive hitter is now joining Chennai’s coaching group.
Albie Morkel Returns to CSK as Assistant Coach
Morkel was a major part of CSK’s early success. He played in their IPL-winning teams in 2010 and 2011, contributing as an all-rounder under MS Dhoni’s captaincy.
His value went beyond hitting the occasional big shot. He could finish an innings, clear the boundary repeatedly and deliver important overs with the ball. In the early years of franchise T20 cricket, that combination made him a dangerous match-winner for both South Africa and Chennai.
His return gives CSK someone who understands the demands of the role their finishers and all-rounders must perform. He also knows the franchise from his years as a player.
A Bigger Role in the Super Kings Setup
Earlier this year, Morkel was appointed head coach of Joburg Super Kings, CSK’s sister franchise in South Africa’s SA20 competition.
His additional responsibility with Chennai reflects the growing trust being placed in him across the Super Kings setup. The franchise is bringing his experience into both teams, giving him a central role in developing players and preparing them for T20 cricket.
For CSK, his appointment adds practical knowledge in all three departments. His experience as a powerful lower-order batter can help players work on six-hitting and finishing. His seam-bowling background gives him an understanding of how all-rounders must balance their responsibilities.
Morkel was also a clever cricketer. The Kohli over showed his ability to identify an opportunity and attack it decisively—an important skill for batters who may have only a few deliveries to change a match.
CSK’s New Coaching Setup
The coaching group outlined for the coming season brings together the following names:
| Coach | Role |
|---|---|
| Zaheer Khan | Head coach |
| Mohit Sharma | Bowling coach |
| Gareth Batty | Assistant coach |
| Albie Morkel | Assistant coach |
Batty’s addition came before Morkel’s return. The question around describing the former England off-spinner as a batting coach remains understandable: batting was never his specialist skill as a player. His officially announced position, however, is assistant coach.
Morkel brings a more direct connection to power-hitting and the all-rounder’s role. His ability to contribute with bat, ball and in the field gives him experience that can benefit several types of players in the squad.
His appointment is another surprise in CSK’s coaching overhaul. A player once trusted to rescue difficult situations will now help prepare the players expected to handle them.
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