Former India pacer Mohit Sharma will join Chennai Super Kings as the franchise’s new bowling coach starting next season. The appointment marks a significant move for the 37-year-old, who announced his retirement from all formats of cricket in December 2025. Sharma brings extensive experience from his playing career, during which he represented India in international cricket and featured prominently across multiple IPL seasons.
CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan confirmed the development, stating that the head coach recommended Sharma for the position. Sharma will replace Eric Simmons, who previously held the bowling coach role at the franchise. The decision reflects CSK’s confidence in Sharma’s understanding of the game and his ability to mentor the bowling unit.
“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,” CSK CEO Viswanathan was quoted as saying by The Times of India.
Sharma’s playing record demonstrates his credentials for the coaching role. Across 120 IPL fixtures, he claimed 134 wickets, establishing himself as one of the competition’s reliable fast bowlers. During his two stints with CSK spanning four seasons, Sharma made a significant impact, including a standout 2014 season when he took 23 wickets and won the Purple Cap.
“The next set of coaching staff will also be recruited on Zaheer’s recommendation in the coming weeks,” Viswanathan added.
Sharma’s playing record and IPL experience
Beyond his CSK years, Sharma represented Punjab Kings from 2016 to 2018 and later played for Gujarat Titans, where he picked up 41 wickets across two seasons. His most recent IPL assignment came with Delhi Capitals before he stepped away from professional cricket. At the international level, Sharma played 26 ODIs and 8 T20Is for India, taking 31 and 6 wickets respectively in those formats.
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Sharma’s transition from player to coach reflected a natural progression in his cricket journey. His familiarity with CSK’s systems and culture, combined with his extensive experience across different franchises, positioned him well for the coaching responsibility. The appointment was set to be formally implemented from the next IPL season onwards.
