IPL 2025: Zaheer Khan all set to join KL Rahul's Lucknow Super Giants as mentor

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will reportedly appoint former Indian bowler Zaheer Khan as mentor of the team for the upcoming IPL 2025 season. The formal unveiling is scheduled to take place on Wednesday at the RPSG Group Headquarters.

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Zaheer Khan to join LSG as mentor for IPL 2025

Zaheer Khan has been away from the IPL fold for the past two years after leaving his position as head of global development at Mumbai Indians. According to news agency PTI, Zaheer Khan's appointment as the mentor of LSG has been finalised and it is just a matter of announcement now. Zaheer's first assignment as mentor of the team will come during the IPL 2025 auction. 

"Zaheer has been appointed as team mentor and the unveiling will happen later today," sources told PTI.

Zaheer Khan will thus take up the role left vacant by Gautam Gambhir last year when he went to join his former franchise Kolkata Knight Riders and guided them to the IPL title in 2024. Gambhir is now the Indian head coach.

At Mumbai Indians, Zaheer first served as the director of cricket before taking on the role of head of global development. LSG currently do not have a bowling coach after the departure of South African speedster Morne Morkel, who has joined Gambhir's coaching staff in the Indian team.

It is learnt that Zaheer Khan will also be involved in scouting and player-development programme during the off season.

Before his coaching career, Zaheer played for three IPL teams -- Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Delhi Daredevils. Over 10 seasons, Zaheer appeared in 100 matches for these teams, claiming 102 wickets with an economy rate of 7.58.

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His final appearance in the IPL was in 2017 when he captained the Delhi Daredevils, after which he retired from all forms of cricket. LSG have Justin Langer as head coach with the Australian replacing Andy Flower before the last IPL as he is set to continue with his deputies Lance Klusener and Adam Voges. 

LSG captain KL Rahul recently met with RPSG Group owner Sanjiv Goenka. 

(With PTI inputs)