Zaheer Khan in talks to become new LSG mentor ahead of IPL 2025 - Reports
Former Indian bowler Zaheer Khan is reportedly a contender to become the Lucknow Super Giants' (LSG) mentor. The post has been vacant ever since Gautam Gambhir resigned to join his former franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of the 2024 season.
LSG have been hit with another departure from their coaching unit after Morne Morkel accepted the offer to be Team India's bowling coach under Gambhir's regime. According to a report by Cricbuzz, the franchise are looking for a figure who could be a mediator between the higher-ups and the players.
Zaheer Khan was one of the names floated around when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was looking for former bowling coach Paras Mhambrey's replacement. Other Indian candidates like R Vinay Kumar and Laxmipathy Balaji were rejected by the board, before they settled on Morne Morkel, upon Gambhir's recommendation.
Zaheer Khan has extensive coaching experience, beginning with a short stint as a bowling consultant for India in 2017. He had a prominent stint with the Mumbai Indians (MI) coaching setup, before being elevated to global head of cricket development in 2022.
LSG had a new-look coaching staff after the departures of Gautam Gambhir and Andy Flower. Former Australia player and head coach Justin Langer was appointed as head coach of the team with the support staff comprising Lance Klusener, Jonty Rhodes, and Adam Voges.
Lucknow had a turbulent season and ended up finishing seventh on the points table, and missed out on making it to the playoffs for a third successive time due to an inferior net run-rate.
LSG in talks to rope in a significant candidate to bolster coaching unit
With Gambhir yet to be replaced and Morkel leaving the setup, the LSG are looking to complete their coaching unit well-before the planning stage for the 2025 mega auction. While Zaheer Khan is being locked in for the role of mentor, the report mentions that the franchise are close to recruiting a prominent name to replace Morne Morkel.
LSG, like the rest of the franchises, are awaiting the BCCI's ruling regarding the player retention and auction rules after yet another three-year cycle came to an end. A number of franchises wished for extra retentions and right-to-match provisions while another section wanted the same existing rules to continue.
The franchise owners held a meeting with the BCCI recently where those opinions were voiced. The governing body is expected to come to a conclusion and announce the verdict towards the end of the month.