New Delhi, July 14
Sunrisers Hyderabad have appointed former India pacer Varun Aaron as their new bowling coach for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. Aaron will replace former New Zealand pacer James Franklin in the role.
The Hyderabad-based franchise announced the news on social media and welcomed the former India pacer to the coaching staff. "A fiery addition to our coaching staff! Welcome Varun Aaron as our new bowling coach," SRH wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Aaron featured in nine IPL seasons between 2011 and 2022, turning out for Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Gujarat Titans.
He was part of the Titans' title-winning campaign in 2022, which turned out to be his final season in the league. However, his personal contribution was limited, with just two wickets from two matches at an economy rate of 10.40.
He played 52 IPL matches and claimed 44 wickets at an economy rate of 8.93. In total, Aaron has featured in 95 T20 matches, picking up 93 wickets. He has also donned the India jersey 18 times, with nine appearances each in ODIs and Tests.
The Jharkhand fast bowler last turned out for his state side in the 2024–25 Vijay Hazare Trophy earlier this January. Following Jharkhand's exit from the tournament, the pacer announced his retirement from "representative cricket".
A graduate of the MRF Pace Foundation, Aaron has been associated with the academy in a professional capacity since mid-2024. He has also established himself as a cricket pundit, regularly appearing in media roles.
The 2016 Indian Premier League (IPL) champions finished the last season in sixth place with six wins and seven defeats in 14 games.
Before the start of the 2024 IPL season, Franklin had replaced Dale Steyn as the bowling coach of Sunrisers Hyderabad after the South African pulled out citing personal reasons.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Interesting choice. I remember Aaron's raw pace but inconsistent performances. Coaching requires different skills than playing. Hope SRH management has made the right call here. The bowling department needs serious improvement after last season.
As someone from Jharkhand, I'm so proud to see Varun getting this opportunity! He's worked hard post-retirement with MRF academy. His experience with multiple IPL teams will help SRH strategize better against different opponents. Best wishes! 🙌
Not convinced about this appointment. SRH needs someone with proven coaching credentials. Aaron is too inexperienced - just 2 years in coaching role. Should have gone for someone like Zaheer Khan or Ashish Nehra who have delivered results.
Good to see IPL teams giving opportunities to former Indian players in coaching roles. Hope Aaron can help Indian youngsters in the squad. Our domestic talent needs proper guidance to shine on big stage. #SupportIndianCoaches
SRH's bowling was their weak point last season. Aaron needs to fix the death bowling issues immediately. His experience of playing at Chinnaswamy (high scoring ground) could be useful for Hyderabad's small ground challenges. Fingers crossed! 🤞
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