All franchises have already begun their preparations for IPL 2025, eagerly awaiting the BCCI’s announcement of player retention rules before the mega auction. Meanwhile, former Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan is making a long-awaited return to the IPL. After retiring from professional cricket, Zaheer had previously served as the Director of Cricket Operations for the Mumbai Indians. This season, he will take on the role of mentor for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
Zaheer Khan’s Experience to Benefit Lucknow
The previous IPL season was not up to expectations for the Lucknow Super Giants, leading to speculations about major changes within the team. With Zaheer Khan joining as a mentor, LSG is expected to gain an advantage in the mega player auction. However, it is still unclear whether Zaheer will only serve as a mentor or also take on the role of bowling coach.
Last season’s bowling coach for LSG, Morne Morkel, has now become the new bowling coach for the Indian team. Zaheer Khan has played for three IPL teams: Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Capitals (formerly Daredevils), and Mumbai Indians. He has taken a total of 102 wickets in the IPL at an economy rate of 7.58 and played his last IPL match in 2017.
Also Read: Big Update on IPL: How Many Players Will Be Retained, and When Will It Be Decided?
Current Coaching Setup for the Lucknow Team
Ahead of the IPL 2025 mega player auction, the coaching setup for the Lucknow Super Giants includes Justin Langer as the head coach, who took over from Andy Flower last season. Lance Klusener and Adam Voges are serving as assistant coaches. While Lucknow made it to the playoffs in their first two seasons, they narrowly missed out on the top 4 last season due to a poor net run rate.