Is Zaheer Khan set to become KKR Bowling coach after Bharat Arun leaves for LSG?

Bharat Arun has been appointed as the new bowling coach for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) ahead of the IPL 2026 season.

Arun has left the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), where he served as a bowling consultant for four years.

His tenure at KKR was highlighted by their IPL 2024 championship win, where Arun played an instrumental role in grooming the team's pace attack.

At LSG, Bharat Arun is set to work on more than just match-day coaching. His responsibilities will include scouting emerging fast bowling talent and developing young pacers throughout the year. The franchise sees his appointment as a long-term investment to strengthen their bowling unit, which had shown inconsistency in earlier IPL seasons. Arun has been signed on a two-year deal, signalling LSG's commitment to building a robust bowling department.

Arun's arrival at LSG effectively replaces Zaheer Khan, who held the position of bowling mentor for the franchise during the 2025 season. During Zaheer's tenure, LSG struggled to make a significant impact, finishing seventh and missing out on the playoffs. Arun's arrival comes alongside a possible addition of Carl Crowe as the spin bowling consultant to complement the coaching staff.

Meanwhile, there is growing speculation about Zaheer Khan's future in the IPL coaching circuit. With Arun's move to LSG, KKR is reportedly considering bringing Zaheer Khan back into their coaching fold, potentially as their new bowling coach for IPL 2026. KKR's pace attack has been criticized for lacking experience, and Zaheer's expertise could be crucial in mentoring young talents like Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, and Umran Malik. The Knight Riders also relieved head coach Chandrakant Pandit off his duties recently.

In addition to Zaheer Khan, other former international pacers like Morne Morkel are also rumored to be on KKR's radar for the bowling coach position. However, Zaheer's previous stint with LSG, combined with his strong coaching credentials, makes him a front-runner for the role. KKR is reportedly looking to revamp its entire coaching setup following their underwhelming performance in the IPL 2025 season.