Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are set to bring former India pacer Mohit Sharma back to the franchise as their new Bowling Coach, marking the first major addition to the support staff being assembled under Head Coach Zaheer Khan, according to a report by Times of India.
Sharma will succeed Eric Simons, who served on the coaching staff under former Head Coach Stephen Fleming. The appointment also brings the 38-year-old back to a franchise he represented across two separate spells during his IPL playing career.
Zaheer Khan begins building his CSK staff
Zaheer recommended Sharma for the position as he begins shaping the coaching group for his first season in charge. Chennai Super Kings Chief Executive Officer Kasi Viswanathan told TimesofIndia.com: “Mohit will join CSK as our new bowling coach. His name was recommended by our head coach Zaheer Khan. Mohit was tremendous with us as a player as well and we hope he will do a great job as bowling coach.”
Further appointments are expected as the franchise continues putting Zaheer’s support structure in place. Viswanathan added: “The next set of coaching staffs will also be recruited on Zaheer’s recommendation in the coming weeks.”
Zaheer replaced Fleming after CSK failed to reach the IPL playoffs for three consecutive seasons. Fleming had served as the franchise’s Head Coach since 2009, with the two sides parting ways following the conclusion of Major League Cricket in July.
Batting coach decision remains to be made
The changes could extend beyond the bowling department. The Indian Express reported that Zaheer is assessing his options for the remaining positions, with an overseas candidate expected to join the support staff and the Batting Coach role potentially remaining with an overseas specialist. Zaheer is also set to select his own physios and trainers, while Assistant Coaches Sridharan Sriram and Rajiv Kumar are expected to continue in their roles next season.
Michael Hussey has been CSK’s Batting Coach since his appointment in January 2018, but the identity of the person who will hold the position for the 2027 season has yet to be settled. According to Cricbuzz, three or four names are under consideration, with a final decision still to be made.
The wider overhaul follows CSK’s appointment of Zaheer after the end of Fleming’s long tenure. The five-time IPL champions last won the competition in 2023 before missing the playoffs in each of the following three seasons.
Sharma returns to where his IPL career took off
Sharma’s history with CSK stretches back to his playing days. He made his IPL debut for the franchise in 2013 and went on to make 48 IPL appearances for Chennai, alongside another 10 appearances across two seasons of the now-defunct Champions League T20.
His standout IPL campaign came in 2014, when he claimed 23 wickets for CSK to win the Purple Cap. Sharma later represented Punjab Kings, Gujarat Titans and Delhi Capitals, finishing his IPL career with 134 wickets from 120 matches.
His spell with Gujarat Titans produced another productive phase late in his career, yielding 41 wickets across two seasons. Sharma last appeared in the IPL for Delhi Capitals in 2025.
Retirement opened the next chapter
Sharma ended his professional playing career on December 3, 2025, bringing to a close a career that included appearances for Haryana, India and multiple IPL franchises. Writing on Instagram that day, Sharma announced: “Today, with a full heart, I announce my retirement from all formats of cricket. From representing Haryana to wearing the India jersey and playing in the IPL, this journey has been nothing short of a blessing.”
At international level, Sharma played 26 ODIs and eight T20Is for India, taking 31 wickets in ODIs and six in T20Is. He was part of India’s 2015 World Cup campaign under MS Dhoni and finished as the tournament’s joint third-highest wicket-taker.
Sharma also used his retirement message to acknowledge those involved throughout his playing career. He wrote: “A very special thank you to the Haryana Cricket Association for being the backbone of my career. And my deepest gratitude to Anirudh Sir, whose constant guidance and belief in me shaped my path in ways words cannot express. Thank you to the BCCI, my coaches, my teammates, IPL franchises, support staff and all my friends for their love and support.”
Sharma’s move into coaching will now reunite him with CSK as the franchise prepares for a new era under Zaheer, with further additions to the support staff due to be determined in the coming weeks.
