Mohit Sharma is returning to Chennai Super Kings, but this time he will not walk into the dressing room with a cricket ball in his hand. The former India pacer is set to become the CSK bowling coach as the franchise enters another period of change.
Mohit already knows CSK well after playing for the team earlier in his IPL career. After injuries, a strong comeback, and his first steps into coaching, he is now returning in a new role. His arrival also comes as CSK begins a new coaching phase under former India pacer Zaheer Khan.
When Did Mohit Sharma Play for CSK?
🚨 MOHIT SHARMA – THE NEW CSK BOWLING COACH!
“Zaheer Khan is in the process of finalising the support staff. He seems to have zeroed in on Mohit for the bowling coach role.” – Kasi Viswanathan told Cricbuzz pic.twitter.com/XwMKwTLya6
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) September 29, 2026
Mohit’s first CSK stint began in IPL 2013. The franchise signed the uncapped Indian pacer after his strong domestic season with Haryana. He made an immediate impact, taking 20 wickets in his first IPL season.
In 2014, Mohit became even more successful. He picked up 23 wickets in 16 matches and won the IPL Purple Cap.
He stayed with CSK in 2015 before moving to Kings XI Punjab after the franchise’s two-year IPL suspension. Mohit returned in 2019, but played only one match. His CSK journey helped shape him into an effective death bowler.
From CSK Player to Gujarat Titans Net Bowler
Mohit’s career then took an unexpected turn. Back injuries slowed his progress, and he struggled to find regular IPL opportunities. He also underwent back surgery and spent time away from the tournament before returning to domestic cricket.
Then came IPL 2022.
Mohit went unsold in the auction, but Gujarat Titans invited him to train with the squad as a net bowler. This gave him a chance to stay around an IPL team and train with top players. Ashish Nehra also encouraged him to keep playing instead of thinking about retirement. That decision changed his career.
Mohit Sharma’s Brilliant IPL Comeback in 2023
In 2023, Mohit returned to the Gujarat Titans squad as a player and made a brilliant IPL comeback.
He took 27 wickets in 14 matches, finishing second on the season’s wicket-taking list. His slower balls, cutters and death-bowling skills made him a key player for Gujarat Titans.
The 2023 IPL final against CSK created a full-circle moment. Mohit bowled the final over for Gujarat when Ravindra Jadeja hit the winning runs for CSK. Gujarat lost the final, but Mohit later said he had no regrets. His attitude could now become valuable in his new coaching role.
Mohit Sharma Was Already Preparing for Coaching
Mohit’s move into a CSK bowling coach role should not come as a surprise.
Even before his playing career ended, he had started thinking about what he would do after cricket. His repeated back problems made him look more closely at fast bowling. He also began learning about areas such as biomechanics and sprint mechanics.
Mohit wanted to prepare for life after playing instead of waiting until retirement. While preparing for a future coaching career, he studied the technical side of fast bowling and sprinting.
He said:
“If you want to pursue coaching, you need to understand what coaching is, because it is totally different to playing.”
Mohit understood that playing and coaching need different skills. So, he started building his coaching knowledge before his playing career ended.
He wanted to be ready for the next stage instead of waiting until the last day of his playing career.
While discussing his plans for the future, Mohit said:
“I realised then that once this phase [of my career] is over, I should be ready for the next one.”
Mohit Has Already Started His Coaching Career
Interestingly, CSK will not be Mohit’s first coaching assignment.
In 2026, he joined Southern Brave in The Hundred as an assistant bowling coach, working with bowling coach Shane Burger. This gave him his first major chance to work in a professional coaching setup.
So, Mohit will already have coaching experience when he joins CSK. His journey has been different from many coaches. He played international cricket, handled pressure situations in the IPL, worked as a net bowler during a difficult period, and then moved into professional coaching.
What Was Mohit Sharma’s Last IPL Season?
Mohit’s final IPL season came with Delhi Capitals in 2025.
He played eight matches and took two wickets. His final IPL appearance came against Punjab Kings on May 24, 2025.
During the season, he bowled 25 overs, conceded 257 runs and took two wickets.
It was a very different season from his excellent 2023 campaign. However, by this point, Mohit had already started thinking about the next stage of his career.
He finished his IPL career with 120 matches and 134 wickets.
His career included a Purple Cap-winning season in 2014 and an impressive comeback in 2023, when he took 27 wickets.
Why Is Mohit’s CSK Return Interesting?
CSK are not simply bringing back another former player. They are bringing back someone who knows the franchise, understands the IPL, and has spent years handling one of T20 cricket’s biggest challenges: bowling when batters attack at the death.
Mohit built his bowling around variations instead of only relying on pace. Cutters, slower balls, slower bouncers and yorkers became important weapons. He can now use that experience to help CSK’s bowlers.
CSK are also starting a new coaching phase under Zaheer Khan. Mohit, as a CSK bowling coach, adds another former India fast bowler who understands the game from the dressing room and has studied the technical side of bowling.
His journey has been unusual. He played for CSK in 2013, won the Purple Cap in 2014, became a GT net bowler in 2022, took 27 wickets in 2023, played his final IPL season for Delhi Capitals in 2025, and coached Southern Brave in 2026.
Now, he returns to CSK, but this time to teach rather than bowl.
What do you think? What does Mohit Sharma bring to the table as a CSK bowling coach? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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