Zaheer Khan's bold take on the need of bowling coach as he joins LSG as mentor

Zaheer Khan takes on as LSG mentor for IPL 2025. (Image: Reuters)

The identity of who will be calling the shots for the Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2025 is no mystery. Former India pacer Zaheer Khan, recently appointed as the team’s mentor—a role previously held by Gautam Gambhir before he joined the Kolkata Knight Riders—has made his goals crystal clear. Zaheer is determined to drive change and deliver results.

Under Gautam Gambhir’s mentorship, LSG reached the playoffs consecutively after their 2022 debut. However, following Gambhir’s departure, the team struggled and finished seventh this season. Additionally, another key member of LSG's support staff, former South African fast bowler Morne Morkel, who served as the team’s bowling coach last IPL, is moving to a new role as India’s bowling coach. Morkel, recruited by Gambhir, will join the team in September, but LSG has yet to announce his replacement. Zaheer Khan, however, downplays the need for a new bowling coach. “Do you need a bowling coach when I'm here? I will do everything that the team needs,” Zaheer remarked during a media session at the RPSG Group Headquarters in Kolkata.

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August 28, 2024

Zaheer is confident that the essential elements for success are already in place and believes that only minor adjustments are needed to elevate LSG to championship status. “LSG are a relatively young franchise in IPL, but it has not been looked upon like that. The building blocks are pretty much in place,” Zaheer said. “They have made a lot of progress. The consistency with reaching playoffs, which is so tough in this fiercely-contested competition, is something that gives me a lot of confidence when I'm looking at coming and contributing to the franchise's success.”

Zaheer also emphasized his alignment with the team’s vision for the future and the brand of cricket they aim to play. His return to the IPL after two years—previously with the five-time champions Mumbai Indians from 2018 to 2022—has set high expectations. Zaheer expressed his readiness to fulfill any necessary roles for the franchise. “The process is something that will be required and which will be my responsibility. I will make sure that the process, that is required for each individual to express themselves fully to bring a lot of victories to the franchise, is in place. I will be closely looking at the decision-making for LSG to go to the next level. Hopefully, this season is going to be the special one and the beginning of something very, very special for this franchise,” Zaheer added.

During his tenure with Mumbai Indians, Zaheer served as the director of cricket before taking on the role of head of global development. It is understood that he will also engage in scouting and player development programs during the off-season. Before transitioning to coaching, Zaheer played for three IPL teams—Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Delhi Daredevils—accruing 102 wickets over 100 matches across 10 seasons at an economy rate of 7.58. His last IPL appearance was in 2017, leading the Delhi Daredevils as captain before retiring from all forms of cricket.