Published on: Sep 30, 2026 5:02 pm IST|Updated on: Sep 30, 2026 5:33 pm IST
Five-time Indian Premier League champions Chennai Super Kings have made some major overhauls to their coaching department ahead of IPL 2027. Following the recent appointment of legendary Indian paceman Zaheer Khan as their head coach, the franchise has now roped in former Indian and CSK right-arm pacer Mohit Sharma as their bowling coach.
Mohit will replace long-serving South African coach Eric Simons in the role, marking the first major addition to the support staff assembled under Zaheer Khan’s leadership and a happy return to the Yellow Army.
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The move to bring back the 38-year-old former pacer was personally recommended by newly appointed head coach Zaheer Khan. CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan confirmed the development, highlighting Mohit’s prior success with the franchise as a crucial factor in the decision.
Speaking to The Times of India, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan said:
“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.”
Viswanathan further indicated that additional coaching appointments would follow in the coming weeks, stating:
“The next set of coaching staff will also be recruited on Zaheer’s recommendation in the coming weeks.”
Mohit Sharma isn’t unknown to the 5-time IPL champions. He has played two of his IPL stints with the franchise, first between 2013 and 2015 and then in the 2019 season. Out of CSK’s five IPL triumphs, Mohit has been a part of the 2015 and 2019 glories. Having made his IPL debut under MS Dhoni in 2013, the Haryana pacer quickly became a staple in CSK’s pace attack due to his deceptive slower balls and consistency in the powerplay.
Mohit bagged 20 wickets in his debut season, followed it up with a standout 23-wicket season in 2014, and ended the season with the coveted Purple Cap. Besides CSK, Mohit had stints with three other teams, namely Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), Gujarat Titans, and Delhi Capitals. Mohit finished his IPL career with 130 scalps.
His IPL stints with CSK came in 2013–15 and 2019, during which he made 48 appearances for the franchise, picking up 58 wickets.
The five-time IPL champions are undergoing a comprehensive structural and managerial overhaul ahead of IPL 2027. After missing out on playoff qualifications for three consecutive seasons, a lot will depend on how the two former Indian pacers operate for the team behind the scenes.
Zaheer Khan and Mohit Sharma are now tasked with revitalizing a bowling unit that struggled on away tracks and in death-overs execution during the 2026 campaign. Mohit’s hands-on experience in modern T20 variations, particularly back-of-the-hand slower balls and wide yorkers, complements Zaheer’s high-level tactical vision.
Zaheer is expected to visit Chennai toward the end of October to finalize retention plans with the management ahead of December’s mini-auction in Goa. Mohit’s appointment signals a clear direction toward building a strong, experienced Indian core in the coaching setup.