Zaheer Khan in Talks for Mentorship Role with Lucknow Super Giants

Zaheer Khan, the former Indian fast bowler, is reportedly in talks with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) franchise for a mentorship role. LSG is keen on bringing in a seasoned Indian player with extensive T20 experience to bolster their coaching setup following the departure of Gautam Gambhir.

Zaheer, who recently stepped down as Mumbai Indians' head of global development, has been approached by two other franchises as well. Prior to his role at MI, he served as the franchise's director of cricket from 2018 to 2022.

LSG has been without a mentor since Gambhir's departure late last year. Gambhir, who played a key role in Kolkata Knight Riders' third IPL title triumph in 2024, has since taken over as India's head coach. Morne Morkel, the former South African pacer who was LSG's bowling coach, has joined Gambhir's team as the bowling coach.

In addition to the mentorship role, LSG is also considering giving Zaheer a broader profile that would involve scouting and player development during the off-season. The franchise's backroom staff is currently led by Justin Langer, who replaced Andy Flower as head coach ahead of IPL 2024. Lance Klusener and Adam Voges serve as his assistants.

After securing playoff berths in their first two seasons, LSG narrowly missed out on a top-four finish in 2024 due to net run rate. Zaheer's potential return to the IPL comes at a time when teams are preparing for a mega auction. The IPL is expected to announce the retention rules by early September.

Zaheer represented three franchises during his playing career: Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Delhi Daredevils. He played 100 matches across ten seasons, claiming 102 wickets at an economy rate of 7.59. His last IPL appearance was in 2017, when he led the Daredevils before retiring from all forms of cricket.

Meanwhile, Punjab Kings is also searching for an Indian head coach to replace Trevor Bayliss. They were reportedly interested in VVS Laxman, but that option is no longer available as Laxman has extended his tenure as head of the BCCI's National Cricket Academy. Sanjay Bangar currently serves as Punjab Kings' head of cricket development.

Tags: #ZaheerKhan, #LucknowSuperGiants, #IPL, #Mentorship, #GautamGambhir