Zaheer Khan IPL 2025: Zaheer Khan replaces Gautam Gambhir, a big announcement has been made
Lucknow Super Giants have added another arrow to their quiver ahead of the mega auction for the IPL 2025 season. Lucknow Super Giants have signed former Team India fast bowler Zaheer Khan. Left-handed star pacer Zaheer has been appointed as Lucknow's mentor for the new season. In this way, Zaheer has replaced current Team India coach Gautam Gambhir as the mentor of LSG, who left the team last year. The franchise introduced Zaheer as the new mentor at a press conference in Kolkata on Wednesday, August 28.
Zaheer Khan will replace Gautam Gambhir in Lucknow Super Giants. Gambhir was the mentor of this franchise since its inception and was a part of the team for 2 consecutive seasons. During this, the franchise qualified for the playoffs in both seasons. However, Gambhir left the team last year and then became the mentor of Kolkata Knight Riders, where he made KKR the champion of IPL 2024. At the same time, Lucknow missed out on reaching the playoffs this season. In such a situation, the franchise decided to appoint a mentor again.
Zaheer Khan, who took more than 600 wickets for Team India in an international career of about 15 years, has been associated with the IPL as a support staff for the last several years. Zaheer, who himself played 100 IPL matches, spent a long time with Mumbai Indians, where he was the Director of Cricket of the franchise for a few years. After this, in 2022, he was promoted and made the Global Head of Development of the franchise. After being in this position for about 2 years, Zaheer agreed to join Lucknow.
45-year-old Zaheer has taken 311 wickets in 92 Tests for Team India. In ODIs, he has taken 282 wickets in 200 matches. Zaheer Khan played 100 IPL matches and took 102 wickets in them. In the World Cup played in 2011, Zaheer Khan also ensured Team India's victory by taking the most wickets. In the IPL, he was a part of Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Daredevils (Capitals) and Mumbai Indians.