Zaheer Khan is likely to become Lucknow Super Giants’ team mentor, RevSportz understands. The former India fast bowler was until recently the global head of cricket development at Mumbai Indians. Once roped in, Zaheer is understood to be looking after LSG’s bowling department, fast bowlers to be precise, while their head coach, Justin Langer, will concentrate more on the batting unit.
The team mentor post at LSG fell vacant, as Gautam Gambhir made a switch to Kolkata Knight Riders after the 2023 IPL season. Gambhir guided KKR to title triumph this term and subsequently became the Indian team’s head coach. As regards to Zaheer, a story was doing the rounds that he could be India’s bowling coach. But the BCCI eventually chose Morne Morkel.
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LSG have a young fast-bowling unit and the most prominent in the group is 22-year-old Mayank Yadav, whom the franchise unearthed this year. Apart from him, the team has some exciting seam-bowling talents like Mohsin Khan, Yash Thakur, Shivam Mavi and Shamar Joseph. It needs to be seen how many of them are retained, or bought back, at the 2025 mega auction. But like every IPL team, LSG, too, will have a core group of young fast bowlers. According to sources, the think-tank at the franchise believes that Zaheer would be the best candidate to mentor them.
Zaheer, 45, played 92 Tests, 200 ODIs and 17 T20Is, claiming 610 international wickets – 311 in Tests, 282 in ODIs and 17 in T20Is. After hanging up his IPL boots as a player in 2017, he joined MI as their bowling coach. He has been part of the Mumbai-based franchise since. Even during his playing career, Zaheer used to be the soundboard for the younger seamers in the team. If eventually LSG rope him in, that would be a seriously positive addition.
As far as LSG’s captaincy is concerned, it is learnt that the hierarchy is yet to decide on KL Rahul’s future, whether he would be retained. In the likely scenario of Rahul leaving the team, LSG would go to the auction/transfers to pick someone with proven leadership skills. Sources said, a top India team star is on the franchise’s radar.
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