Former India fast bowler Varun Aaron has been appointed as the bowling coach of Sunrisers Hyderabad ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The 35-year-old takes over the role from New Zealand’s James Franklin.
SRH made the announcement on their social media platforms on Monday 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 announced on X, formerly Twitter.
This will be the 35-year-old Aaron’s first official coaching role since retiring from all forms of cricket in January this year. He will work under the guidance of head coach Daniel Vettori as part of SRH’s support staff.
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.
Aaron, who has been serving as a consultant at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai, the institution that helped shape his own playing career in 2010–11, since mid-2024. 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”.
In international cricket, despite a promising start, Aaron’s career was hampered by recurring stress fractures. He featured in nine Tests and nine ODIs, with his final appearance coming in the 2015 Bengaluru Test against South Africa. One of the most talked-about moments of his career came during India’s 2014 tour of England, when a sharp bouncer from him struck Stuart Broad on the face, causing a serious injury.
In the IPL, Aaron turned out for six franchises — Delhi Daredevils, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders, Kings XI Punjab and Gujarat Titans. He played 52 matches and picked up 44 wickets, finishing with an economy rate of 8.93. His last IPL stint was in 2022, when he was part of Gujarat Titans’ title-winning campaign.