IPL: Zaheer Khan Likely To Succeed Gautam Gambhir As Lucknow Super Giants’ Mentor

Zaheer Khan is in advanced negotiations with the Lucknow Super Giants to take on the mentor role, a position vacated by Gautam Gambhir and recently Morne Morkel.

If finalized, Zaheer would step into a crucial role with the IPL franchise, following Gambhir’s move to Kolkata and Morkel’s departure after three seasons as the team’s bowling coach.

The Lucknow Super Giants have been without a mentor since Gambhir’s exit in 2023, and the position opened up again with Morkel’s recent departure.

Sources suggest that Zaheer, a former Indian pacer known for his expertise and mentoring skills, is a prime candidate for the role. He would not only fill the void left by Gambhir but also offer valuable insights to the team’s bowlers and act as a key liaison between players and management.

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Zaheer was previously considered for a role with the Indian national team, particularly to mentor young fast bowlers, but this opportunity did not materialize. Despite this, his extensive coaching experience with the Mumbai Indians in the IPL positions him well for the Lucknow Super Giants.

In his new role, Zaheer would work alongside head coach Justin Langer and a team of coaches including Adam Voges, Lance Klusener, and Jonty Rhodes. There are also rumors of another prominent coach joining the franchise, although details are still emerging.

Zaheer, 45, had a distinguished international career, playing 92 Tests, 200 ODIs, and 17 T20Is for India, and 100 IPL games across Delhi Daredevils, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Mumbai Indians. His last IPL appearance was in 2017.

The Lucknow Super Giants, purchased in 2022 for over a billion dollars, reached the top-four in their first two seasons but missed the playoffs last year due to an inferior Net Run Rate.

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