Muralitharan named Sunrisers bowling coach

Former Sri Lanka offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan has been named Sunrisers Hyderabad's bowling coach and team mentor for the Indian Premier League 2015 season.

Muralitharan, 42, played 66 IPL games across seven seasons for Chennai Super Kings, Kochi Tuskers Kerala and Royal Challengers Bangalore, taking 63 wickets at an average of 26.92. During his time with Super Kings, from 2008 to 2010, he claimed 52 scalps from 46 matches, helping the team win the IPL as well as the Champions League Twenty20 in 2010.

In 2011, Muralitharan called time on an illustrious international career which yielded a record 1347 wickets across all three formats. He continued playing franchise cricket for a number of teams across the world including Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League, and Jamaica Tallawahs in the Caribbean Premier League.

After a disappointing season with Royal Challengers in 2014 in which he played only five matches, Muralitharan decided to end his playing career. In June last year, Muralitharan joined Australia as a coaching consultant ahead of the team's series against Pakistan in the UAE.

Sunrisers finished sixth last year and missed out on the playoffs, having lost eight of their 14 games.

We're happy to welcome Muttiah Muralitharan to the #OrangeArmy as the Bowling Coach & Team Mentor! #TheOrangeCarpet pic.twitter.com/YTmixuhiGr

— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) January 19, 2015