Zaheer Khan announced as mentor of Lucknow Super Giants ahead of IPL 2025 mega auction

Zaheer Khan takes up the role of Lucknow Super Giants’s mentor which was vacated by Gautam Gambhir.

Former India pacer Zaheer Khan was announced as the mentor and talent development programme head of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) franchise ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction.

The franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka conducted a press conference on Wednesday where he officially welcomed Zaheer to the franchise.

The former seamer will take the mentor’s role that was vacant in the IPL 2024 season as LSG’s former mentor, Gautam Gambhir, had left the franchise and returned to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Gambhir mentored KKR to the IPL 2024 title and soon took up the head coach role of the Indian cricket team.

IPL 2025: Zaheer Khan takes dual role at LSG

Zaheer was also reportedly in contention for India’s bowling coach position. However, Gambhir suggested Morne Morkel, whom he worked with for two IPL seasons at Lucknow, for the India fast-bowling coach’s role.

Sanjiv Goenka swooped in on the opportunity and roped in Zaheer in the role of a mentor and also handed him a wider profile of being involved with scouting and player-development programmes during the off-season.

Khan featured in 100 IPL matches for Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals), picking up 102 wickets at an economy of 7.58. He last played in the IPL in 2017, when he was Delhi’s captain.

Zaheer was with Mumbai Indians from 2018 to 2022, first as director of cricket and then head of global development and oversaw MI’s teams in other franchise leagues as well.

At LSG, Zaheer will join head coach Justin Langer and assistant coaches Lance Klusener and Adam Voges.

LSG reached the playoffs in their first two IPL seasons in 2022 and 2023 but missed a top-four spot this year.

For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.