Zaheer Khan move by LSG takes a final turn ahead of IPL 2025
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Former India fast bowler Zaheer Khan has been appointed as the mentor of Lucknow Super Giants.
The appointment of Zaheer has come before the IPL 2025 mega auction which means that he will play a key role in the team's planning at the auction table.
Zaheer will fill up the role vacated by Gautam Gambhir, who was LSG's mentor in the 2022 and 2023 seasons of IPL.
But Gambhir left the franchise to join Kolkata Knight Riders for the IPL 2024 season. KKR went on to become the champions of IPL 2024 and Gambhir is believed to play a big part in their victory.
Zaheer Khan confirmed as LSG team mentor ahead of IPL 2025
According to ESPNCricinfo, Zaheer Khan will take up the role of LSG's mentor in the upcoming season.
However, it is not yet confirmed whether he will take up the role of bowling coach which has been vacated after Morne Morkel's departure. Morkel has joined Team India as their bowling coach.
A few days later, reports emerged of Zaheer Khan in continuous talks with the franchise and it was only a matter of time when Zaheer joined the franchise. However, he was expected to take up more roles with the franchise.
Zaheer has had enough experience of working in the coaching staff ever since he stopped playing cricket.
He played his last IPL season in 2017 after which he joined Mumbai Indians as the director of cricket.
Zaheer Khan's coaching experience
From 2018 to 2022, he served as the director of cricket at Mumbai Indians. Afterward, he was promoted to the role of head of global development in Mumbai Indians.
As a player, he has played for Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Delhi Daredevils in the IPL.
In 100 IPL matches he has played, he picked up 102 wickets at an average of 27.27 and an economy rate of 7.59. His last IPL match was for Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals).
Meanwhile, Zaheer Khan has an incredible record as an international player and was the spearhead of India's bowling attack for a long time.
Overall, The left-arm seamer picked up 610 wickets in 309 international matches in his illustrious career.
According to ESPNCricinfo, the LSG management wants to give Zaheer Khan a wider set of responsibilities which involves the scouting and player-development programs during the off-season.
Zaheer already has the experience of working for Mumbai Indians during the off-season as a part of their scouting team.
LSG coaching staff
Currently, the coaching staff of Lucknow Super Giants is led by the team's head coach Justin Langer, who will continue in the role.
Langer joined LSG before IPL 2024 season after he replaced the previous coach Andy Flower in the role.
While Langer is the head coach, Lance Klusener and Adam Voges are the assistant coaches of the team.
Langer has the experience of coaching Australia's Men's cricket team in the past and understands the modern game of cricket.
