Former Indian pacer Zaheer Khan is reportedly in talks with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) franchise to assume the role of mentor ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The 45-year-old, who retired from all forms of cricket in 2017, has a wealth of experience in the IPL, having played 100 games for three different franchises.
As a player, Zaheer was known for his incisive swing bowling and ability to extract bounce from the pitch. He claimed 102 wickets in the IPL at an impressive economy rate of 7.59. After retiring, he joined the Mumbai Indians (MI) franchise as head of global development and later served as director of cricket from 2018-2022.
LSG, which is owned by the RPSG Group, is keen on bringing in a top former India player with extensive T20 experience to strengthen their coaching setup. The franchise has already parted ways with former India opener Gautam Gambhir, who led them to the playoffs in both 2022 and 2023.
Apart from the mentorship role, LSG is also considering giving Zaheer a wider profile that would involve involvement in scouting and player-development programs during the off-season. The franchise believes that Zaheer’s expertise and connections in the cricketing world would be invaluable in identifying and nurturing young talent.
Zaheer is not the only former India player being considered for a mentorship role in the IPL. Punjab Kings are reportedly looking to hire an Indian head coach, with VVS Laxman being a potential candidate. However, Laxman’s current role as head of the BCCI’s National Cricket Academy makes it unlikely that he will be available for the position.
The IPL is one of the most popular and lucrative cricket leagues in the world, attracting top players from around the globe. The upcoming season is expected to be highly competitive, with several teams looking to strengthen their squads ahead of the mega auction. Zaheer’s potential appointment as mentor of LSG would be a significant boost for the franchise, which is aiming to make a deep run in the tournament.
