Gujarat Titans have strengthened their coaching staff by appointing former Australian opener Matthew Hayden as batting coach ahead of the IPL 2026 season. Hayden, a two-time ODI World Cup winner and IPL champion with Chennai Super Kings, joins head coach Ashish Nehra and director of cricket Vikram Solanki. The move aims to enhance the team's batting performance as they prepare for the upcoming campaign.
The Gujarat Titans announced on Tuesday the appointment of Matthew Hayden as their new batting coach for the Indian Premier League 2026 season. This addition comes just weeks before the start of the league's 19th edition, bolstering the franchise's backroom team which includes head coach Ashish Nehra, director of cricket Vikram Solanki, and fielding coach Parthiv Patel.
Hayden, known for his aggressive opening batting during his playing career, brings a wealth of experience to the role. He represented Australia in all formats, contributing to victories in the 2003 and 2007 ODI World Cups as well as the 2006 Champions Trophy. In the IPL, Hayden played for Chennai Super Kings from 2008 to 2010, amassing 1,107 runs in 32 matches at an average of 36.90 and a strike rate of 137.52. He led the run-scoring charts in the 2009 season with 572 runs in 12 innings and played a key role in CSK's maiden IPL title win in 2010.
Upon his appointment, Hayden stated, "Good batting applies pressure. Great batting owns the game. That's the standard we want to set at Gujarat Titans." Vikram Solanki welcomed the addition, saying, "Matthew’s appointment comes at a pivotal phase in our journey. As a franchise committed to excellence and long-term success, we are constantly focused on strengthening our cricketing ecosystem. His experience at the highest level, coupled with his ability to mentor emerging talent, will be instrumental in shaping our batting identity for the seasons ahead."
The Titans, who won the IPL in 2022, seek to build on their success with Hayden's expertise in T20 batting. Previously, he served as a batting consultant for the Pakistan cricket team.
