When Gautam Gambhir departed LSG last year to join the Kolkata Knight Riders, his former team, Zaheer Khan will step into his place.
Before the 2025 Indian Premier League, Gautam Gambhir was replaced as the coach of the Lucknow Super Giants by former fast bowler Zaheer Khan. On Wednesday, at a ceremony held at the RPSG headquarters in Kolkata, LSG formally introduced Zaheer as their new mentor.
Here’s where all your waiting is over! The RPSG shared a message on X titled “The King of Reverse Swing, Indian Legend #ZaheerKhan takes charge as the mentor of @LucknowIPL #ZaheerNowSuperGiant.”
At the function, Sajiv Goenka gave Zaheer the No. 34 jersey from LSG. The left-arm pacer’s IPL and international career were all spent with the same number.
Zaheer’s return to IPL fold
After spending two years away from the IPL, the 45-year-old left-arm bowler has rejoined the Mumbai Indians, who were five-time winners from 2018 to 2022, with this appointment.
As a result, Zaheer will fill the void created by Gautam Gambhir, who left last year to rejoin the Kolkata Knight Riders, his former team, and lead them to the 2024 IPL championship. Now, Gambhir is the head coach of India.
Zaheer was the director of cricket for the Mumbai Indians before he became the head of global development.
With the departure of South African quick Morne Morkel, who has joined Gambhir’s coaching staff, LSG do not currently have a bowling coach.
It has been discovered that Zaheer would spend the off-season participating in player-development and scouting initiatives.
Zaheer played for the Mumbai Indians, Delhi Daredevils, and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League prior to beginning his coaching career.
Zaheer played in 100 games for these sides over a ten-year span, taking 102 wickets at an economy rate of 7.58.
In 2017, he made his final IPL debut as the Delhi Daredevils’ captain. He stopped playing cricket in all its forms after that.
After Andy Flower was replaced as head coach of LSG prior to the most recent IPL, Justin Langer, an Australian, assumed the role. He will be assisted by Lance Klusener and Adam Voges.