3 members of India's 2011 World Cup-winning squad who can be mentors and coaches in IPL 2025 ft. Virender Sehwag
As per some recent media reports, former India pacer Zaheer Khan is in talks with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for the role of mentor in the Indian Premier League (IPL). LSG have been without a mentor since Gautam Gambhir moved to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of the 2024 season.
Another member of the support staff, Morne Morkel, has also left the Lucknow franchise to join as bowling coach of the Indian team, where he will reunite with Gambhir. Zaheer has plenty of IPL experience in coach and mentorship roles, having been associated with Mumbai Indians for a long time.
As per a report in Cricbuzz, the former India left-arm seamer is being considered for the role of mentor with LSG since he can share his vast expertise with Lucknow Super Giants' bowlers. During his playing days as well, Zaheer was known as someone who guided the upcoming bowlers in the team.
Zaheer was a member of India's 2011 ODI World Cup-winning squad. In the wake of reports about him being considered for the role of mentor by LSG, we pick three other members of that legendary squad who can be mentors or coaches in the upcoming IPL 2025.
#1 Yuvraj Singh
There have been reports doing the rounds that former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh is being considered for the role of Gujarat Titans (GT) head coach in the IPL.
As per a news report in News18 a few weeks back, GT head coach Ashish Nehra and Director of Cricket Vikram Solanki are likely to leave the franchise ahead of IPL 2025, with Yuvraj's name doing the rounds as the next head coach.
“Lot of changes on the cards. Ashish Nehra and Vikram Solanki are highly likely to move on and discussions around Yuvraj Singh have already begun. Nothing is finalized right now but there could be some major changes in the coaching staff of the Gujarat Titans,” News18 quoted a source as saying.
It is no secret that Yuvraj has been a mentor to current Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill. Although he is not a professional coach, the two-time World Cup winner has also guided Punjab youngsters like Anmolpreet Singh and Prabhsimran Singh. And the way the two players have performed recently, Yuvraj's guidance seems to have made a difference.
Nehra did a good job as coach of the GT franchise in collaboration with ex-captain Hardik Pandya. They won the IPL title in their maiden season in 2022 and were runners-up in 2023. However, with Pandya moving to MI, Gujarat had a poor IPL 2024 season. A change in coaching setup might not be a bad thing for GT.
#2 Virender Sehwag
Dashing former India opener Virender Sehwag could also be an interesting choice as a mentor or coach of an IPL franchise. Following the end of his playing career, Sehwag served as a mentor for his former franchise Punjab Kings (PBKS) from 2016 to 2018 before parting ways with the underperforming side. As such, the former India opener has been there and done that.
Sehwag may not be a professional coach as such, but he has plenty of experience and can share his wisdom with players in the IPL, particularly as a mentor. He has been in the running for the position of India's coach in the past, which proves that he is rated as a thinker of the game. Like with his dynamic batting, the 45-year-old can be expected to bring a unique twist to a coaching/ mentor role in the IPL.
#3 Suresh Raina
Towards the end of 2023, reports were doing the rounds that Suresh Raina was being considered for the role of LSG mentor in the Indian Premier League, replacing Gambhir. However, Raina quashed the reports, by responding to a post by a journalist on social media.
While rumors of the former India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter being considered for the post of LSG mentor turned out to be false, Raina joining an IPL franchise as a mentor or coach would not be a bad idea. He has plenty of experience of playing in international cricket and, at one point in time, was the biggest batting star in the Indian Premier League.
In case, the 37-year-old former India left-hander, also known for his brilliant fielding skills, is keen on joining a franchise as a coach or mentor, it shouldn't be difficult for him to find a team. The big question, of course, is whether Raina wants to tread a path that so many other former cricketers have taken.