Former India left-arm fast-bowler Zaheer Khan has been appointed as the mentor for the Lucknow SuperGiants (LSG) in a formal event held at the RPSG Group Headquarters in Kolkata on Wednesday.
“All your anticipation ends here! The King of reverse swing, Indian legend #ZaheerKhan takes charge as the mentor of @LucknowIPL,” the RPSG Group, which owns the LSG franchise, announced on their ‘X’ account.
Zaheer Khan will step into the mentor role previously held by Gautam Gambhir, who left LSG after IPL 2023. Gambhir went on to become the mentor for Kolkata Knight Riders, leading them to their third IPL title in Chennai. In July, he succeeded Rahul Dravid as the head coach of the India men’s team.
The 45-year-old Zaheer joins the LSG coaching staff, which includes Justin Langer as head coach, alongside Lance Klusener and Adam Voges as assistant coaches. The team still needs a bowling coach after Morne Morkel left the position to join the Indian team.
Zaheer Khan’s IPL Legacy and Potential Role with LSG
As a player, Zaheer represented Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Delhi Capitals, participating in 100 matches and taking 102 wickets at an economy rate of 7.58.
Reports also suggest that Zaheer, a member of India’s 2011 ODI World Cup-winning team, might head the franchise’s talent development program, though this has not been officially confirmed yet.
Previously, Zaheer was with the Mumbai Indians (MI) franchise from 2018 to 2022, initially as director of cricket and later as head of global development.
During the IPL 2023 and 2024 seasons, the former pacer was part of the commentary team for digital broadcasters JioCinema.
His new role is expected to bring valuable knowledge in player development and scouting during the off-season. Zaheer has a strong background in playing over ten IPL seasons and taking 102 wickets in 100 matches with a solid economy rate of 7.58
LSG was purchased by Sanjiv Goenka in 2022 for INR 7090 crore and plays at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The team reached the playoffs in both the IPL 2022 and 2023 seasons but was eliminated in the eliminator matches each time.
In IPL 2024, LSG fell short of a playoff spot due to a negative Net Run Rate (NRR), finishing seventh in the points table.
LSG Owner's Remarks on Mayank Yadav's Future and Fitness
When asked about Mayank Yadav’s fitness, who is being watched by the National Cricket Academy (NCA), Goenka was cautious. “I can’t comment on his fitness,” he said. “Mayank is a hard worker who wants to get better and play well in both franchise cricket and for Team India.”
Regarding whether LSG will keep Mayank, Goenka had a broader view. “We hope all top players will play for LSG,” he mentioned.
