Chennai Super Kings appoint Eric Simons as bowling consultant

Eric Simons has coach India as well as the Delhi Daredevils in the past

What's the story?

Returning IPL franchise the Chennai Super Kings have appointed Eric Simons as their bowling consultant for the upcoming 2018 season. The announcement came from a tweet that the side posted on their official Twitter handle this afternoon.

Yello Lions! The newest Lion in the Pride is from the South African Safari! Put your whistles together for Eric Simons, our Bowling Consultant. For a super awesome summer ahead! #SummerIsComing 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/TBDiMXBTAH

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) February 14, 2018

In case you didn't know...

The Chennai Super Kings, along with the Rajasthan Royals, were suspended for two years from participating in the IPL owing to their involvement in betting, which is considered to be an illegal activity in India, during the 2013 edition of the tournament. Their place in the IPL for the 2016 and the 2017 seasons were taken by the Rising Pune Supergiant and the Gujarat Lions.

Former South Africa pacer Simons, who has been the head coach of his native country and the bowling coach of the Indian national side before, a period which included India lifting the 2011 World Cup, has also worked as the coach of the Delhi Daredevils franchise previously. In 2016, he was appointed as the coach of the new team Rising Pune Supergiant and was with them in 2017 as well.

The heart of the matter

The Chennai squad for the 2018 season has been already boosted by the appointment of former India and CSK pacer Lakshmipathy Balaji, who was chosen to be the team's bowling coach last month.

Their squad consists of proven bowlers like Dwayne Bravo, Shane Watson, Harbhajan Singh, Imran Tahir and the young talent Lungi Ngidi.

What's next?

The eleventh edition of the Indian Premier League begins on April 7 with the first match of the season between defending champions Mumbai Indians and comeback side Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium, while the final has been slated for May 27 also at the same ground.

Author's Take

With a bowling coach already in their kitty, the appointment of Simons as a bowling consultant could perhaps be termed as needless. However, at the same time, the presence of Simons in the dressing room is bound to bring in plenty of experience into play.