IPL 2026: Matthew Hayden appointed GT's batting coach
What's the story
Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden has been appointed as the batting coach of Gujarat Titans for the upcoming Indian Premier League 2026 season. The franchise announced the news in an official release on Tuesday. The move comes as part of their effort to bolster their support staff ahead of the new campaign.
Coaching strategy
Vikram Solanki welcomes Hayden to GT family
Hayden, a two-time World Cup-winning opener, brings a wealth of international experience and white-ball batting expertise to the Titans. The franchise believes his knowledge of modern-day T20 batting dynamics will further bolster their coaching group as they gear up for IPL 2026. "Matthew's appointment comes at a pivotal phase in our journey," said Vikram Solanki, Director of Cricket at Gujarat Titans.
Career highlights
Over 15,000 international runs for Hayden
Hayden represented Australia in 273 international matches across formats, scoring over 15,000 runs and playing a key role in several ICC tournament victories. His aggressive yet technically sound approach made him one of the defining batters of his generation. He also played three seasons in the IPL between 2008-2010 for CSK, scoring 1,107 runs and winning CSK's first IPL title in 2010. With 572 runs at a strike rate of 144.81, Hayden was the highest run-getter of the 2009 edition.
Coaching philosophy
Hayden's coaching experience and vision for IPL
Before joining GT, Hayden had a stint as a coach with the Pakistan cricket team. He was also their mentor during the 2022 T20 World Cup final in Australia. Speaking about his new role, Hayden said: "Good batting applies pressure. Great batting owns the game." This statement reflects his vision for the batting group at GT as they prepare for IPL 2026 season. GT, who are the 2022 champions and 2023 runners-up, crased out after reaching the playoffs last season.