The world of cricket coaching recognizes Stephen Fleming as one of its most esteemed coaches. The New Zealand captain who retired from playing cricket became a coach who dedicated himself to his coaching work from 2004 onward until T20 leagues became international. Fleming dedicated his whole professional career to coach Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and MS Dhoni, which became his main path toward building his coaching legacy. Fleming achieved his professional triumphs at CSK, where he clinched five IPL championships, since he won major titles with that team only. He did not win any head coaching championships outside CSK, even though he managed multiple strong teams throughout various leagues. Fleming’s Coaching Journey Across Global T20 Leagues Fleming became the head coach of CSK in 2009. The Rising Pune Supergiant (RPSG) period marked his first appearance at CSK before he moved to another team before returning to his original position. He has taken on coaching roles for multiple teams in the Big Bash League (BBL) and SA20 and Major League Cricket (MLC) leagues throughout his career. Fleming reached finals in the league which had MS Dhoni as captain in both CSK and RPSG in 2017. He brought consistent performance to other teams which he coached yet he failed to secure any titles. The CSK playing style depends on Dhoni who maintains tactical composure while directing matches through his strong leadership abilities. Fleming has frequently explained that Dhoni helps him complete his work because Dhoni handles on-field duties while understanding weather conditions better than most. CSK maintains its position as the most successful T20 franchise team because of this successful partnership between its players. Fleming's teams failed to win any championships without Dhoni even though they had talented players. Also Read | India U19 vs NZ U19: Full Head-to-Head Record in U19 World Cup History Fleming’s Record in Major Teams (Head Coach Only) Years Team 2009-2015, 2018-present Chennai Super Kings 2015-2019 Melbourne Stars 2016-2017 Rising Pune Supergiant 2022-present Joburg Super Kings 2023-present Texas Super Kings Chennai Super Kings (IPL) Year Matches Won Lost Stage Result 2008 16 9 7 Final Runners-up 2009 15 8 6 Semi Semi-finalists 2010 16 9 7 Final Champions 2011 16 11 5 Final Champions 2012 19 10 8 Final Runners-up 2013 18 12 6 Final Runners-up 2014 16 10 6 Playoffs Qualified 2015 17 10 7 Final Runners-up 2018 16 11 5 Final Champions 2019 17 10 7 Final Runners-up 2020 14 6 8 League 7th 2021 16 11 5 Final Champions 2022 14 4 10 League 9th 2023 16 10 5 Final Champions 2024 14 7 7 League 5th 2025 14 4 10 League 10th Fleming has won five IPL titles with CSK (2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, 2023) and finished runners-up five times. The team CSK has maintained its reputation as the most reliable IPL team throughout all historical periods. Rising Pune Super Giants (IPL) Year Played Won Lost Position 2016 14 5 9 7th (Group) 2017 16 10 6 Runners-up Dhoni and Fleming reached the final together in 2017, but they lost the match by one run against the Mumbai Indians. Melbourne Stars (BBL) Season Win-Loss Finish 2015-16 5–3 Runners-up 2016-17 4–4 Semi-final 2017-18 2–8 DNQ 2018-19 7–7 Runners-up Fleming led the Melbourne Stars to two finals, but his team lost both championship games. Also Read | T20 World Cup 2026: Full List of Players Ruled Out Due to Injuries Joburg Super Kings (SA20) Season Finish 2022-23 Semi-final 2023-24 Quarter-final 2024-25 Eliminator 2026 Eliminator Texas Super Kings (MLC) Season Finish 2023 Challenger 2024 Challenger 2025 Challenger Key Point: Dhoni Factor in Fleming’s Legacy Fleming reached his championship victories because of his close relationship with CSK and Dhoni. Under Dhoni, CSK has: Won 5 IPL titles Reached 10 IPL finals Rarely finished outside playoffs Fleming has made it to multiple playoff rounds with teams that didn't feature Dhoni but he has never clinched a championship. The CSK-Dhoni-Fleming partnership establishes an exclusive partnership which stands alone within T20 cricket. Dhoni operates to manage match tactics and decide on field placements while Fleming assists with planning and scouting activities and maintaining dressing room order. The method of shared style has contributed to CSK's sustained achievements over time.