IPL 2025: Zaheer Khan Joins Lucknow Super Giants as Mentor

In a significant move ahead of the IPL 2025, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have brought on board former Indian pacer Zaheer Khan as their mentor. This appointment comes as LSG looks to reset its squad for the upcoming season, especially after the exit of Gautam Gambhir, who had previously served as the team’s mentor until IPL 2023. Gambhir has since moved on to take up the mentor role at Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2024 and currently serves as the head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team.

LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka, who has long admired Zaheer’s prowess both on the field and off, played a key role in securing his services. Goenka was reportedly impressed by Zaheer’s contributions as a player, coach, and strategist, making him the ideal candidate to guide LSG in the upcoming seasons.

Zaheer’s role at LSG will not be limited to mentoring. Following the departure of Morne Morkel, who left LSG to join Gambhir’s coaching staff with the Indian team, Zaheer is also expected to take on bowling coach duties. Though Zaheer playfully dodged confirming this during his unveiling, his words hinted at his dual role: “If I am there in the set-up, does the team need another bowling coach?”

Zaheer Khan’s vast experience in the IPL will be invaluable to LSG. From 2018 to 2022, he was an integral part of the Mumbai Indians (MI) franchise, serving first as the director of cricket and later as the head of global development. His IPL career as a player spanned ten seasons, where he featured in 100 matches, representing MI, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Delhi Daredevils, and took 102 wickets at an economy rate of 7.58. His last appearance as a player in the tournament was in 2017 when he captained the Delhi Daredevils before retiring from all forms of cricket.

In addition to mentoring, Zaheer is expected to play a broader role in LSG’s operations. The franchise is keen on involving him in scouting and player development programs during the off-season, which will be crucial for LSG as they prepare for the mega auction. With retention rules likely to be announced by early September, Zaheer’s expertise will be critical in shaping the team’s strategy.

Under the current coaching set-up, headed by Justin Langer and supported by assistants Lance Klusener and Adam Voges, LSG has shown promise. The team secured playoff spots in their first two seasons, although they narrowly missed out on the top four in 2024 due to net run rate. With Zaheer Khan’s addition to the team, LSG is poised to make a strong comeback in IPL 2025.

As the franchise gears up for a new season, the presence of a cricketing stalwart like Zaheer Khan is expected to bring fresh energy and strategic depth to the LSG camp. Fans and players alike will be looking forward to seeing how his influence shapes the team’s performance in the highly competitive league.