Well, we might have breaking news for you as Insidesport has learnt that the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will officially announce Zaheer Khan as their mentor. On Tuesday, LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka called for the press conference, scheduled to take place at 2 PM on Wednesday. However, Insidesport sources have told us that the presser will be for Zaheer Khan, who will assume the role in the support staff after the franchise was ‘mentor-less’ since Gautam Gambhir left for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
Nothing on KL Rahul, just Zaheer Khan
Two days ago, the entire cricketing community stopped and gazed at the picture that came out from a recent meeting between KL Rahul and Sanjiv Goenka. Both were smiling quite vividly in front of the camera, planting seeds that the Wednesday’s press conference might just cater to the LSG skipper’s retention (or release). However, it turns out we might just have to wait a bit more on KL Rahul’s part. It’s worth noting that rumors had been swirling about Rahul’s future with the team, especially after a humiliating loss to SRH in IPL 2024 that saw Goenka visibly frustrated with the skipper.
Zaheer Khan: Ideal choice for LSG
This move comes at a crucial time for LSG, who have been without a mentor since Gautam Gambhir’s departure to KKR. With Gambhir now serving as India’s head coach and bowling coach Morne Morkel also joining the national setup, the Super Giants were in dire need of experienced leadership, especially someone Indian.
Enter Zaheer Khan, a name that needs no introduction in the cricketing world. The 45-year-old left-arm pacer brings with him a wealth of experience, having represented India in 92 Tests, 200 ODIs, and 17 T20Is, amassing an impressive tally of 610 international wickets.
But it’s not just Zaheer’s playing credentials that make him an attractive choice for LSG. His previous stint as a mentor with the Mumbai Indians (MI) saw him work closely with world-class talents like Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult, and making the them as one of the most dangerous bowling duo in T20 franchise cricket.
If the deal is finalized, Zaheer will join an already strong coaching staff at LSG, including head coach Justin Langer and assistants Adam Voges, Lance Klusener, and fielding coach Jonty Rhodes.
His role is expected to be multifaceted, filling the mentorship void left by Gambhir while also providing his expertise to the team’s bowlers. Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Arshad Khan, Yudhvir Singh Charak and Yash Thakur might be all smiles after getting to know about this announcement!
