Former India pacer Mohit Sharma is set to join Chennai Super Kings as bowling coach for IPL 2027 under new head coach Zaheer Khan, replacing Eric Simmons as CSK begins a fresh coaching overhaul.
In a major development ahead of the 2027 Indian Premier League season, former Indian fast bowler Mohit Sharma is poised to return to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in a brand-new capacity. The 38-year-old seamer is set to take charge as the franchise’s bowling coach, marking his return to an outfit where he previously spent four impactful seasons as an active player.
Mohit is expected to step into the role previously held by veteran South African coach Eric Simmons, who served as bowling coach during the extended and decorated tenure of former head coach Stephen Fleming. The move comes as part of a sweeping revamp within the CSK backroom following several seasons of underwhelming competitive performances.
“CSK head coach Zaheer Khan has decided on having Mohit Sharma on board for the bowling coach role for IPL 2027. A word on the rest of CSK’s support staff appointments is expected to arrive in the coming weeks,” a source tracking the development revealed on Tuesday.
The appointment signifies the first major personnel addition engineered by newly appointed head coach Zaheer Khan. Following three consecutive seasons without playoff qualification, the Chennai-based franchise chose to end its longstanding partnership with Fleming, ushering in a complete structural reset under Zaheer. The former India spearhead has wasted no time shaping a modernized tactical bench, prioritising domestic bowling expertise and firsthand familiarity with the unique demands of the MA Chidambaram Stadium surface.
Mohit brings extensive experience directly drawn from modern T20 dynamics. Having represented India in 26 ODIs and eight T20 Internationals, the Haryana pacer remained an active competitor until recently, taking part in the IPL through the 2025 campaign before announcing his complete retirement from professional cricket in December. His deep tactical insight into pace variations, back-of-the-hand slower balls, and yorker execution at the death made him one of the competition’s most resilient pacers across multiple franchise stints.
His history with the yellow brigade remains especially storied. Between 2013 and 2015, followed by a subsequent return, Mohit featured in 48 IPL matches for Chennai Super Kings, claiming the prestigious Purple Cap in 2014 with 23 wickets. Additionally, he appeared in 10 matches for CSK across two seasons of the now-defunct Champions League T20, playing a crucial role in Chennai’s title run during the tournament’s 2014 edition.
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The five-time champions last lifted silverware in 2023, but back-to-back group-stage exits prompted franchise owners to enact a comprehensive rebuild. With Mohit Sharma working directly under Zaheer Khan, CSK aims to blend technical pedigree with strategic precision to restore the bowling unit’s reputation as one of the tournament’s most disciplined attacks. Further announcements detailing additional support staff positions, including fielding and batting mentors, are scheduled over the upcoming weeks.
