During LSG’s IPL 2025 negotiations, Zaheer Khan is expected to replace Gautam Gambhir and Morne Morkel

Former India cricketer Zaheer Khan has reportedly been approached by the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for a dual role within their coaching setup, as per recent media reports. LSG, which has made the playoffs in two out of their three seasons in the IPL, is currently looking to fill significant gaps in their coaching staff. This follows the departure of Gautam Gambhir, who previously served as the team’s mentor but left in 2024 to return to his former team, Kolkata Knight Riders, and later became the head coach of the men’s cricket team for India. Additionally, the franchise lost its bowling coach, Morne Morkel, after the 2024 season. Morkel is now expected to join Gambhir’s coaching staff with the Indian team in a similar role.

According to a report from Cricbuzz, if LSG manages to finalize the deal with Zaheer Khan, the former Indian fast bowler could potentially take on both the mentor and bowling coach roles for the upcoming IPL season. The report also suggests that Zaheer would serve as a crucial intermediary between the players and the franchise management, playing a key role in ensuring smooth communication within the team. In this capacity, he would work alongside head coach Justin Langer and other prominent figures in the coaching unit, including Adam Voges, Lance Klusener, and Jonty Rhodes.

Zaheer Khan was previously considered for the position of bowling coach for the Indian cricket team. However, Gautam Gambhir reportedly requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to appoint Morne Morkel for the role instead, citing their successful working relationship at LSG during the 2022 and 2023 IPL seasons. For Zaheer, this opportunity with LSG would mark his second coaching stint in the IPL, having previously been part of the Mumbai Indians’ coaching setup. As a seasoned cricketer who played 92 Tests, 200 ODIs, and 17 T20Is for India, along with 100 IPL matches, Zaheer brings a wealth of experience and expertise to any coaching role.

In related developments, the Cricbuzz report also revealed that the BCCI is expected to announce the rules for player retention ahead of the IPL 2025 season’s mega auction by the end of August. It has been suggested that all 10 franchises might be allowed to retain up to six players, along with the option to use a Right to Match (RTM) card, which would allow them to match the highest bid for a previously released player. These retention rules will be crucial for teams as they strategize and build their squads for the upcoming season, aiming to strike the right balance between retaining key players and bringing in new talent during the auction.