Zaheer Khan joins Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) as mentor. What will be major challenges ahead of Zaheer Khan in IPL 2025.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have appointed Zaheer Khan as their mentor for the 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The former India pacer will now closely work with head coach Justin Langer and other coaching staff in Lance Klusener, Adam Voges, and Jonty Rhodes.
Zaheer, an experienced international campaigner with 610 wickets for India and 102 more in the IPL, has great expertise when it comes to coaching. He was previously associated with the five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians (MI) from 2018 to 2022, first as a “Director of Cricket” and then taking up the role of “Head of Global Development.”
Zaheer found success in those roles as he helped the franchise in talent scouting, and many young players made their mark in those seasons for MI. They also went on to capture the IPL title twice. So, by the looks of it, LSG have targeted the right person to fill in the mentor role left void by Gautam Gambhir post the 2023 season.
Major tasks ahead of Zaheer Khan for IPL 2025
Build a strong team at the Mega Auctions
The Lucknow franchise made their IPL debut in the 2022 edition and immediately made a significant mark by reaching the qualifiers. They followed a good debut season with yet another strong show in 2023, wherein they finished third in the points and reached the playoffs again.
Though LSG didn’t win the tournament in either of those editions, they were consistent with their team selection and won 17 of the 30 games across both seasons. In 2024 as well, LSG finished with seven wins and missed out on a playoff spot owing to NRR.
Much of it was due to the squad they built in the last mega auction (2022) and the efforts of the team management, particularly Gautam Gambhir, who was the mentor of LSG then.
Zaheer included LSG coaching staff’s important task would be to identify the core players in the squad and retain them. Then in the forthcoming auction, they would have an even harder job to put across a solid squad for the next IPL cycle. To continue the legacy of LSG as a side that qualifies for the playoffs often, a good auction is paramount.
Talent scouting and player development
One thing Zaheer Khan did well during his stint with Mumbai was talent scouting and player development. He played a pivotal role in bringing out the best in players at MI, and Zaheer would likely be entrusted with the same responsibility at LSG as well.
The franchise is known for identifying and nurturing young fast bowlers. We have already seen the likes of youngsters like Mayank Yadav, Naveen-ul-Haq, and Mohsin Khan making a mark in the IPL. With Morne Morkel no longer at the helm as bowling coach, it would be Zaheer’s responsibility to find newer talents, mentor them, and bring out the best in them. In India, there is no better person to sharpen your bowling skills with than the left-arm great.
Zeroing on the captain of LSG
Though KL Rahul was the skipper of LSG in the last three seasons, the franchise has not yet formally announced who will be at the helm for the coming season. With Zaheer Khan coming as a mentor, things could shape up about the appointment of a captain.
Will they go with KL Rahul once again, pick a new captain from the existing team, or transfer from another team? Either way, it would be interesting to see what moves the former India pacer will make and whether KL Rahul will fit into his ideology. We will have to wait and watch what transpires within the Super Giants.
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