Zaheer Khan Set to Join Lucknow Super Giants as Mentor Ahead of IPL 2025 Mega Auction
New Delhi: Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are set to appoint former Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan as their mentor, just in time for the IPL 2025 mega auction. This appointment marks the 45-year-old left-arm pacer’s return to the IPL after a two-year break. Zaheer was previously associated with Mumbai Indians, where he played a pivotal role from 2018 to 2022, contributing to the franchise’s success as five-time champions.
The official announcement of Zaheer‘s new role is scheduled for Wednesday at the RPSG Group Headquarters. His appointment will fill the void left by Gautam Gambhir, who departed LSG last year to rejoin his former team, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Gambhir’s return to KKR was marked by a successful season, where he guided the franchise to the IPL title in 2024. Currently, Gambhir has taken on the responsibility of head coach for the Indian national team.
Zaheer’s tenure with Mumbai Indians saw him take on dual roles: first as the Director of Cricket and later as the Head of Global Development. His experience and expertise are expected to be invaluable to LSG, especially given that the team currently lacks a bowling coach. This position was left vacant after South African speedster Morne Morkel departed to join Gambhir’s coaching staff.
Zaheer’s responsibilities with LSG will extend beyond just mentoring; he is also expected to play a key role in scouting and player development during the off-season. His extensive IPL experience, which includes stints with Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Delhi Daredevils, makes him well-suited for these tasks. Over 10 IPL seasons, Zaheer appeared in 100 matches, taking 102 wickets with an economy rate of 7.58. His last IPL appearance was in 2017 as the captain of Delhi Daredevils, after which he retired from all forms of cricket.
Under the leadership of head coach Justin Langer, LSG’s coaching staff, including Lance Klusener and Adam Voges, will now be strengthened with Zaheer’s addition as they prepare for the upcoming season.
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