The Lucknow Super Giants and Zaheer Khan are now negotiating on Khan’s mentorship. He may take the position of two well-known players for the northern Indian Premier League (IPL) team if the current negotiations are successful.
Since Gautam Gambhir moved to Kolkata in 2023, the Super Giants have been without a mentor; Morne Morkel’s departure has created a fresh void. It should be noted that both Morkel, who coached the team’s bowling department for three seasons, and Gambhir are close to joining the Indian national squad.
According to IPL insiders, Zaheer is being evaluated for the position that Gambhir occupied and may be able to help the bowlers for the Lucknow Super Giants by lending his experience. Additionally, as a go-between for gamers and the franchise’s management—whose owner is renowned for having a strong enthusiasm for the game—he will play a crucial role.
Under Gambhir’s new system in Team India, Zaheer was originally considered as a possible bowling coach, primarily to train the young and developing pacers in and around the team—a job for which he is highly valued. Zaheer was well-known for coaching and teaching the team’s young fast bowlers even in his playing days for India.
Because Morkel was clearly favored by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Gambhir’s advice, Zaheer Khan’s prospective position with the Indian squad did not materialize. However, having previously worked with the Mumbai Indians, the former India bowler has a wealth of IPL coaching expertise.
Zaheer will work with head coach Justin Langer and a potent group of assistant coaches, which includes Jonty Rhodes, Adam Voges, and Lance Klusener, among others, in the Lucknow Super Giants setup. The specifics of the rumored addition of another well-known coach to the Sanjiv Goenka-owned team are still murky.
In addition to playing 100 IPL games with the Delhi Daredevils (now the Delhi Capitals), Royal Challengers Bangalore (now the Royal Challengers Bengaluru), and Mumbai Indians, Zaheer, 45, played 92 Tests, 200 ODIs, and 17 T20Is for India. His final IPL match was in 2017.
The most expensive franchise in the IPL, LSG was purchased in 2022 for more than a billion dollars (about Rs. 7090 crore at the time of the transaction). The club finished in the top four throughout its first two seasons, but last year’s lower Net Run Rate prevented them from making the playoffs (NRR).
Zaheer, 45, represented the Delhi Daredevils (now the Delhi Capitals), Royal Challengers Bangalore (now the Royal Challengers Bengaluru), and Mumbai Indians in 100 IPL games in addition to playing 92 Tests, 200 ODIs, and 17 T20Is for his country. 2017 marked his final IPL match.
After being acquired for more than a billion dollars in 2022 (about Rs. 7090 crore at the time), LSG, the most expensive franchise in the IPL, finished in the top four in its first two seasons before failing to qualify for the playoffs last year owing to a subpar Net Run Rate (NRR).
There’s a growing belief that the retention guidelines will be revealed by the BCCI before the end of this month. Teams are anticipated to be permitted about six retentions, including the RTM option, as previously reported by Cricbuzz. The BCCI does not want to do away with the Big Auction, at least not for now, despite calls from several clubs to do so.
