The Gujarat Titans have made two high-profile appointments to their coaching staff ahead of IPL 2026, naming Vijay Dahiya as assistant coach and former Australian opener Matthew Hayden as batting coach. Both bring deep playing and coaching experience that should strengthen the Titans’ preparation and batting approach as the tournament edges closer.
Experienced pair to strengthen the coaching unit
These signings underline Gujarat’s intent to add international experience and fresh ideas to their backroom team. Dahiya and Hayden offer complementary skill sets—one grounded in Indian domestic and IPL know-how, the other in aggressive international batting and power-hitting techniques.
Vijay Dahiya: a steady hand behind the scenes
Role: Assistant coach
Vijay Dahiya is a former India wicketkeeper-batsman who moved into coaching after a playing career at the international and domestic levels. Known for his clear communication and tactical understanding of the game, Dahiya brings experience working in Indian conditions and with a variety of players across formats.
- Coaching strengths: player management, wicketkeeping insights, middle-order planning and match preparation.
- What he adds: familiarity with domestic talent pipelines and the IPL environment, helping bridge the gap between young prospects and established stars.
Matthew Hayden: power and international batting expertise
Role: Batting coach
Matthew Hayden needs little introduction. The former Australian opener built a reputation as one of the most dominant batsmen of his era, combining big-hitting with sound technique. As batting coach, Hayden is expected to focus on power-hitting, shot selection, and mental approaches to high-pressure T20 innings.
- Coaching strengths: technique refinement for strokes, training for aggressive scenarios, match awareness for openers and middle-order batsmen.
- What he adds: international insights, modern power-hitting drills and a strong mindset for leaders in the batting unit.
What this means for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026
Adding Dahiya and Hayden signals a clear focus: sharpen the batting unit while improving tactical depth. The combination should help Gujarat develop a more consistent top order, extract better performances from middle-order players, and turn potential into match-winning contributions.
Fans can expect:
- More structured batting plans tailored to T20 situations.
- Enhanced training routines for power-hitting and situational awareness.
- Better support for young players stepping up to the IPL stage.
Integration and the road to the season
With IPL 2026 on the horizon, both coaches will likely be involved in pre-season camps, practice matches and strategy sessions. Their immediate task will be to gel with the existing coaching staff, assess the squad’s strengths and weaknesses, and set clear objectives for the season.
The bottom line: Vijay Dahiya’s experience in Indian cricket and Matthew Hayden’s international batting pedigree create a balanced coaching duo. Together they give the Gujarat Titans a blend of tactical acumen and raw batting expertise—qualities that could prove decisive as the team chases strong results in IPL 2026.