Gareth Batty leaves Surrey for Chennai Super Kings coaching role

Gareth Batty has stepped down as Surrey head coach to become an assistant coach with Indian Premier League side Chennai Super Kings, BBC Sport reported. The move ends a 21-year association with Surrey for the former England spinner, whose time at the club included two spells as a player before he moved into coaching after retirement.

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Batty took charge as head coach in 2022 and won the County Championship in each of his first three seasons. That sequence made Surrey the first team in nearly 60 years to claim three successive Championship titles. His record in charge also included two appearances at T20 Finals Day, adding limited-overs achievements to the county's run of success in the longer format.

His connection with Surrey began in 1998, when he joined from Yorkshire. That first spell lasted until 2001, and he subsequently spent seven seasons at Worcestershire before returning to The Oval in 2010. The return brought a further chapter in his playing career with Surrey, including a period as club captain between 2015 and 2017.

Across his Surrey playing career, Batty made more than 350 appearances and took more than 500 wickets in all formats. He also represented England in nine Test matches. When he retired in 2021, he immediately joined Surrey's coaching staff, moving from the playing squad into a coaching role before taking the head coach's job the following year.

In comments to Surrey's website carried by BBC Sport, Batty expressed his gratitude for what the club had meant to him. He described the move as an exciting new stage for both himself and his family and said he was looking forward to starting the role. The appointment takes him from leading Surrey's coaching operation to an assistant position with Chennai.

Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart paid tribute to Batty's contribution as both player and head coach. Stewart said his long experience of working with Batty had demonstrated the coach's commitment to the county. While expressing regret at his departure, he said he understood the attraction of the opportunity, which would allow Batty to spend more time with his family outside the IPL season.