Ex-RCB Star Appointed SRH Bowling Coach Ahead of IPL 2026

Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) pacer has recently joined Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) as their new bowling coach for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. The franchise has officially confirmed the news on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday.

SRH shared the announcement with a warm message as they welcomed Varun Aaron to their coaching staff. “A fiery addition to our coaching staff! Welcome Varun Aaron as our new bowling coach,” the post read. It is a surprising decision for the franchise as Aaron doesn't have a huge amount of experience in cricket coaching.

Varun Aaron SRH Bowling Coach for IPL 2026

With this role of new SRH bowling coach, Varun Aaron becomes part of the Orange Army’s coaching group. He replaces James Franklin, the former New Zealand all-rounder, who served as SRH’s bowling coach during IPL 2025. Aaron will take over the role of SRH bowling coach from the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League.

Aaron had a long IPL career. He has played 52 matches across 11 seasons. He picked up 44 wickets with a strike rate of 22.59. Aaron was known for his pace and aggression. He played for several IPL teams like Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Titans, Punjab Kings, and Rajasthan Royals.

His last appearance as a player came in IPL 2022, where he played for Gujarat Titans against Delhi Capitals. In that match, he bowled only one over and gave away seven runs. In IPL 2025, he was part of the commentary panel and was praised for his insights.

Sunrisers Hyderabad will hope that Aaron brings new energy and skill to their bowling unit. They had a tough IPL 2025 season, finishing sixth in the points table. The team managed 6 wins and suffered 7 losses, while one of their matches was washed out. They ended with 13 points and failed to reach the playoffs.
This was a big fall from IPL 2024, where SRH made it to the final. However, they lost the title match to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). With Aaron now joining as bowling coach, the team will aim to make a strong comeback in IPL 2026.

SRH Ticket Controversy

Recently, Sunrisers Hyderabad were also in the news for a major controversy. On July 9, 2025, Jagan Mohan Rao, President of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), was arrested by the Crime Investigation Department (CID). The arrest is linked to the IPL 2025 ticket scam during matches held at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium.

The CID’s investigation found several irregularities in ticket distribution for SRH’s home games. The report mentioned mismanagement and violation of rules by HCA officials. SRH made serious accusations against Jagan Mohan Rao. The franchise claimed that Rao and other HCA members forced them to hand over extra tickets. These tickets were reportedly sold at high prices on the black market.

SRH also said that Rao used pressure tactics. In one shocking incident, he allegedly locked the corporate box before a game. This was seen as an attempt to threaten the franchise. Due to these issues, SRH complained to the BCCI and IPL Governing Council. They asked the higher authorities to take action. As SRH prepares for IPL 2026 with a new bowling coach, they will hope to leave this controversy behind in the new season.