IPL 2025: Three reasons why Zaheer Khan's Role as Mentor could spark a 'New Era' for LSG

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Zaheer Khan made the headlines after he was appointed as the new mentor for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) ahead of the IPL 2025. LSG made the official announcement on social media on August 28.

This is indeed a huge boost to the franchise as the bowling great, who is known for his deep understanding of the game is expected to bring a fresh perspective to the Lucknow-based franchise.

LSG owner Sanjeev Goenka who addressed the reporters at the press conference opined that Zaheer will be overseeing the overall development of the players. Previously, Gautam Gambhir served as the mentor of LSG. Under his mentorship, LSG reached the IPL playoffs in consecutive seasons (2022, 2023) wherein he formed a strong partnership with head coach Andy Flower.

A cricketing brain like Zaheer Khan stepping into this role could be a game-changing move for the franchise. It will be quite interesting to see how he makes his mark on the team for the upcoming season. Let's delve into three reasons why Zaheer Khan's appointment as a mentor could be the turning point for LSG.

1. Big Boost for LSG's strategy: It is cognizant of the fact that Zaheer Khan is widely regarded as a calm and composed personality, both on and off the cricket field. His potential to stay cool under pressure and his deep understanding of the game is exactly what the team requires going forward. He is expected to add spice to the team's camp with his insights in the hope of transforming LSG into a more formidable force in the IPL.

2. Helping hand for the Bowlers: LSG boasts a strong bowling unit but they lacked the killer instinct to deliver the goods in the last season. However, with the recent appointment of Zaheer Khan, it would do a world of good. The team already has talented bowlers like Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, and Yash Dubey, complemented by overseas pacers like Shamar Joseph and Naveen-ul-Haq.

With the departure of former bowling coach Morne Morkel, Zaheer Khan will be looking to pitch in with the right guidance to the bowlers, such that they will be able to trouble the opposition batters with bowling variations.

3. Proven track record in player development: For the unversed, Zaheer Khan has previously held the roles of Director of Cricket and Global Head of Development at the Mumbai Indians. During his tenure with MI, Zaheer played a pivotal role in bringing the best out of young talents. Rightly so, he will be looking forward to fostering a winning mentality in the LSG camp in the next season.