Zaheer was appointed as Lucknow Super Giants mentor on Wednesday. (AP)
Lucknow Super Giants have appointed former India pacer Zaheer Khan as their mentor ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.
The appointment will mark Zaheer’s return to the management fold in the IPL after two years, having previously spent five seasons with five-time champions Mumbai Indians from 2018 to 2022.
Zaheer will take over the role that was left vacant last season after current India head coach Gautam Gambhir moved to take over the Kolkata Knight Riders mentorship last season. While KKR went onto lift the title, Lucknow finished seventh in the standings in their third IPL season.
Zaheer first worked as the director of cricket with the Mumbai Indians before moving onto the role of head of global development of the franchise.
LSG also do not have a bowling coach after former South Africa pacer Morne Morkel left the role to take up a coaching stint with the Indian men’s national side.
Zaheer, a veteran of 610 international wickets across formats, represented three franchises – Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Delhi Daredevils – during his playing days.
Across 10 seasons, Zaheer picked up 102 wickets in 100 matches with an economy rate of 7.58. His final appearance in the IPL was in 2017 when he captained the Delhi Daredevils (later Capitals), after which he retired from all forms of cricket.
LSG currently have Justin Langer as head coach with Lance Klusener and Adam Voges alongside him in the support staff.
