The Lucknow Super Giants, an Indian Premier League franchise, are in talks with legendary pace bowler Zaheer Khan to take on the role of mentor. This news comes after the team lost their previous mentor, Gautam Gambhir, who moved to Kolkata in 2023. The departure of bowling coach Morne Morkel to become Team India’s bowling coach further emphasized the need for a strong mentor figure.
Reports suggest that Zaheer is being considered for the role previously held by Gambhir, a position that carries significant weight in guiding the team’s performance. Zaheer was previously in contention to be the bowling coach under Gambhir’s new setup with Team India, particularly to mentor young fast bowlers. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chose Morkel for the role, reportedly based on Gambhir’s recommendation.
Zaheer has a strong reputation for mentoring young fast bowlers during his playing career with the Indian team, making him a valuable asset for the Lucknow Super Giants. His potential appointment would see him collaborate with head coach Justin Langer and a well-established coaching team, including Adam Voges, Lance Klusener, and Jonty Rhodes.
The report also hinted at the potential addition of another notable coach to the Sanjiv Goenka-owned franchise, although details remain unclear. The Lucknow Super Giants, established in 2022, have enjoyed a successful start to their IPL journey, reaching the playoffs in their first two seasons. However, they missed out on a top-four spot in the 2023 edition due to an inferior Net Run Rate (NRR).
In other IPL news, the BCCI is expected to announce retention rules by the end of the month. Teams are projected to be allowed around six retentions, including the Right to Match (RTM) option. Despite calls from some franchises to discontinue the Big Auction, the BCCI plans to retain it for now.
