Former Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan is expected to take on the role of mentor for the IPL team Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the upcoming season. According to ESPNcricinfo, Zaheer will be stepping into the position left vacant by Gautam Gambhir, who moved on from his role as LSG’s mentor after IPL 2023. Gambhir has since become the mentor for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the team that went on to win the IPL 2024 title.
While it’s almost certain that Zaheer will be the mentor, there is still some uncertainty about whether he will also assume the role of bowling coach, a position left open after Morne Morkel’s departure. Morkel left LSG to join Gambhir in the Indian team’s coaching staff as the bowling coach.
Before Morkel was appointed, there were rumors that Zaheer might be named as India’s new bowling coach. Additionally, LSG is reportedly interested in giving Zaheer a broader role within the franchise, involving him in scouting and player development during the off-season.
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Currently, Justin Langer is the head coach of LSG, having taken over from Andy Flower before the IPL 2024 season. In the previous season, LSG missed out on the playoffs. Langer is supported by assistant coaches Lance Klusener and Adam Voges.
During his IPL playing career, Zaheer Khan represented teams like Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Delhi Daredevils. Over 100 matches, he took 102 wickets with an economy rate of 7.59. After retiring from playing, Zaheer was involved with Mumbai Indians as the director of cricket and later as the head of global development from 2018 to 2022.
Zaheer’s international career was equally impressive, with 311 Test wickets in 92 matches and a total of 610 wickets in 309 international matches across all formats. He is regarded as one of the finest left-arm pacers in cricket history.