Mohit Sharma should fix wicket-taking at the death before anything else, because Chennai Super Kings were never short of control. They finished eighth in IPL 2026, conceding 9.43 runs an over against 9.71 for the playoff teams, yet they took 5.43 wickets an innings against 6.39. That is almost one fewer breakthrough every single game. The first job for the new bowling coach is a clear plan for the final five overs, not a verdict on his appointment.
A new coaching staff under Zaheer
Mohit is reported to replace Eric Simons, who was part of Stephen Fleming’s setup as bowling coach. Zaheer Khan is now head coach, replacing Fleming on a one-year contract.
CEO Kasi Viswanathan said Zaheer recommended Mohit’s name and that the next set of coaching staff will also be recruited on his recommendation in the coming weeks. Mohit retired as a player in December 2025, so this is his first coaching role. That chain of recommendations puts the bowling plan in Zaheer’s hands, with Mohit as the specialist voice on the final five overs.
Mohit Sharma starts with CSK death overs for IPL 2027
CSK released Matheesha Pathirana before the auction, citing fitness concerns and the impact of his remodelled action. He joined Kolkata Knight Riders. Nathan Ellis, bought for Rs 2 crore, was then ruled out with a hamstring injury on 20 March 2026, ten days before the opener. Aakash Chopra asked who would bowl at the death, noting that none of CSK’s seamers were specialists.
CSK began IPL 2026 without Pathirana and Ellis, and neither gap was filled by a specialist, so pace bowlers had to learn the role in real time. The phase numbers below are rounded estimates, and Anshul Kamboj’s 13 wickets in 20.1 death overs from another count make the exact leakage the least settled figure.
Phase | CSK economy | Playoff average | Difference |
Powerplay | 9.9 | about 9.9 | about 0 |
Middle overs | 8.8 | 9.4 | -0.6 |
Death overs | about 11.0 | about 10.0 | about +1.0 |
Season | 9.43 | 9.71 | -0.28 |
The wicket-taking gap against playoff sides
CSK’s middle overs went at 8.8 an over against 9.4 for the playoff teams, so control was not the issue. Wickets were 5.43 per innings against 6.39. CSK won six of 14 matches.
Anshul Kamboj (21), Jamie Overton (14) and Noor Ahmad (13) led the wicket-takers. Across the 14 games, CSK won 85.71 per cent when they took three or more middle-over wickets and none when they took two or fewer, though the sample is small.
That link ties the closing plan to the middle overs: a breakthrough in the 12th over leaves fewer runs to defend in the 19th. CSK’s dot-ball rate of 33.3 per cent was level with 33.5 for the playoff teams, which again points to missing wickets rather than missing control.
Slower balls and a Purple Cap pedigree
Mohit took 134 IPL wickets in 120 matches for CSK, Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Titans. He won the 2014 Purple Cap with CSK, taking 23 wickets in 16 matches, and returned 27 wickets for Gujarat in 2023 and 13 in 2024.
He is credited with 57 death-over wickets, built on back-of-the-hand slower balls and cutters. He retired on 3 December 2025. The 27 and 13 wickets for Gujarat came long after the 2014 peak, so the skill has outlasted the Purple Cap season. Those skills map directly onto the problem. A bowling coach who built a career on pace-off deliveries at the finish has the right résumé for an attack with no specialist closer.
Bowlers who gain most from him
Kamboj is the clearest case. He took 21 wickets but at 10.53 an over, the most expensive of CSK’s main bowlers. He was moved to the death in IPL 2026, bowling around the wicket, and had 10 wickets between overs 15 and 20 midway through the season.
Khaleel Ahmed went for 8.67 in 16.5 overs for two wickets. Noor Ahmad (8.39) and Akeal Hosein (8.03) were the tightest. Mohit’s slower-ball methods suit the pace bowlers most, especially those still learning the role. The plan for CSK’s death overs for IPL 2027 starts with Kamboj: tighten his economy, keep his wickets, and the rest of the attack gets a template to copy.
Will Mohit Sharma’s slower-ball plan be enough, or does CSK’s attack still need a specialist closer? Share your view in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who is CSK’s new bowling coach for IPL 2027?
Mohit Sharma is CSK’s new bowling coach, announced at the end of September 2026. Zaheer Khan recommended him, and he replaces Eric Simons, with this being his first coaching role after retiring in December 2025.
Who is CSK’s head coach for IPL 2027?
Zaheer Khan is CSK’s head coach for IPL 2027. He replaced Stephen Fleming on a one-year contract and recommended Mohit Sharma, with more staff appointments to follow on his recommendation in the coming weeks.
Who was CSK’s bowling coach in IPL 2026?
Eric Simons was CSK’s bowling coach in IPL 2026. He was described as a bowling coach or consultant in Stephen Fleming’s setup, and Mohit Sharma is reported to be taking over his role.
Why did CSK release Matheesha Pathirana?
CSK released Matheesha Pathirana before the auction because of his fitness concerns. They also pointed to the impact of his remodelled action, and he has since joined Kolkata Knight Riders.
How many IPL wickets did Mohit Sharma take?
Mohit Sharma took 134 IPL wickets in 120 matches. That total includes his 2014 Purple Cap season with CSK, when he took 23 wickets in 16 matches.
Disclaimer: This blog post reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspectives shared and draw their own conclusions.