Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden has been appointed batting coach of the Gujarat Titans for the 2026 season of the Indian Premier League, marking his first coaching role in the tournament.
Hayden, widely regarded as one of the most dominant opening batters of his generation, will join an experienced Gujarat Titans support staff that includes head coach Ashish Nehra, director of cricket Vikram Solanki and assistant coach Parthiv Patel.
Announcing the appointment, the franchise said Hayden’s vast experience at the highest level of international cricket would help strengthen the team’s batting unit and mentor emerging players within the squad.
Reacting to the role, Hayden emphasised the importance of a strong batting mindset in T20 cricket. “Good batting applies pressure. Great batting owns the game,” he said in a statement. “That’s the standard we want to set at Gujarat Titans.”
Solanki welcomed the addition of the former Australia star, noting that Hayden’s experience and leadership qualities would be valuable in shaping the team’s batting identity in the coming seasons. He added that Hayden’s ability to guide young talent would be an important asset for the franchise.
Hayden enjoyed a decorated international career, winning two ODI World Cups with Australia and earning induction into the ICC Hall of Fame. During his playing days in the IPL, he represented Chennai Super Kings, playing 32 matches and helping the team win the 2010 title. He also finished as the tournament’s highest run-scorer in the 2009 season.
Gujarat Titans, captained by Shubman Gill, will begin preparations for the 2026 IPL season, which is scheduled to start on March 28. The franchise won the IPL title in their debut season in 2022 and finished runners-up in 2023 before ending the 2025 campaign in third place.