Zaheer Khan Likely to Exit LSG After IPL 2025 Flop Show; Management Unhappy With Team’s Direction: Report

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Zaheer Khan, who joined Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) as a mentor ahead of the IPL 2025 season, is unlikely to continue in the role after the team's underwhelming campaign.

According to a Cricbuzz report published on Wednesday (June 4), the ex India star is facing the heat following LSG's poor performance, where the franchise managed only six wins from 14 league games and finished seventh with 12 points.

Zaheer, who was brought in to support the team's leadership ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, was reportedly signed on a one-year contract. That deal is now up for renewal, but insiders suggest that an extension is far from guaranteed. A source told Cricbuzz, "It will be a surprise if he is actually continued."

Zaheer worked alongside head coach Justin Langer, whose contract also comes up for review. Though details about their working relationship remain unclear, there are suggestions that all was not smooth behind the scenes.

The report states, "Zaheer was brought in to work alongside head coach Justin Langer, whose contract is also up for renewal. While it's unclear how well the two coordinated during the season, there appears to be a sense of dissatisfaction within the squad and the management. The buzz at this stage suggests that the spotlight is more on Zaheer than on Langer."

LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka, known for his deep involvement in the franchise's affairs, is reportedly dissatisfied with how the season unfolded. Despite being outside the setup in 2024, Zaheer's influence this year hasn't yielded the expected turnaround.

As Cricbuzz noted, "The LSG franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka is known to be passionate about cricket and the IPL prospects, and for the last two seasons the team has not managed to make the play-offs. Though Zaheer cannot be answerable for the 2024 season, the management is not too happy with the way the team performed this season."

One of the key highlights of LSG's 2025 campaign was their acquisition of star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant for ₹27 crore in the mega auction. While Pant and Zaheer shared a strong professional rapport, the team failed to live up to the aggressive style they had promoted. The report elaborates, "While the team mentor cannot be held responsible for the captain's underwhelming performance, it was Zaheer who helped shape the team's vision and approach. Both he and Pant had spoken about playing a fearless brand of cricket this season. But whatever the intended approach, it clearly did not yield expected results."

Pant managed to register a century and a fifty during the tournament, but on both occasions, LSG suffered narrow defeats. His performance as a captain also drew criticism, contributing to the pressure on the team's leadership group.

As LSG prepares for the next IPL cycle, major changes in the coaching and support staff appear imminent. While no official decision has been announced yet, signs strongly indicate that Zaheer Khan's tenure with the franchise may be coming to an end.