Zaheer Khan in Talks to Become Mentor for Lucknow Super Giants
Zaheer Khan is currently in negotiations with the Lucknow Super Giants to potentially take on the role of mentor. Should these talks conclude successfully, he may replace Gautam Gambhir and Morne Morkel, both significant figures in the IPL franchise of northern India.
The Lucknow Super Giants have been without a mentor since the departure of Gautam Gambhir for Kolkata in 2023. Furthermore, with Morne Morkel leaving, another vacancy has arisen. It's worth noting that Morne Morkel was responsible for bowling coach duties for three seasons. Both Gambhir and Morkel are reportedly either already part of the Indian national team or just about to join.
As per insider sources, Zaheer is being considered for the same role that Gambhir held. Additionally, it's expected that his experience will also be invaluable to the bowlers of Lucknow Super Giants. Zaheer's pivotal role will bridge the gap between the players and the passionate management of the franchise.
Zaheer Khan, in the past, has been viewed as a prospective bowling coach under Gambhir's management in Team India. He is specifically appreciated for his ability to guide young and uprising pacers in the team, a skill acknowledged even during his playing years. Unfortunately, the position in the Indian team did not come to fruition, as Morkel was chosen by the BCCI, most likely on Gambhir's recommendation. Nonetheless, Zaheer brings to the table a robust coaching experience from his time working with Mumbai Indians in IPL.
In his role with the Lucknow Super Giants, Zaheer will be joining forces with head coach Justin Langer and a diligent team of coaches, including Adam Voges, Lance Klusener, and Jonty Rhodes. Apart from this, there's also potential that an additional prominent coach might join the LSG franchise owned by Sanjiv Goenka, although the specifics remain unclear.
Zaheer Khan, aged 45, has a substantial cricketing background having played 92 Tests, 200 ODIs, 17 T20Is for India and 100 IPL games. His IPL journey saw him in the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), Royal Challengers Bangalore (now Royal Challengers Bengaluru), and Mumbai Indians ensembles. His last IPL match was in 2017.
The Lucknow Super Giants paid over a billion dollars for the team in 2022, making it the most expensive team in IPL. In its first two seasons, the team made it to the top-four stage but fell short of a playoff spot last season due to a lower Net Run Rate (NRR).
As reported by Cricbuzz, there may be around six retentions anticipated for announcement by the BCCI before the month's end, inclusive of the RTM option. Despite requests from certain franchises for discontinuation of the Big Auction, BCCI has no plans to cease it, at least for now.
