Zaheer Khan, the team mentor of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), has parted ways with the IPL franchise after just one season. ESPNcricinfo reported that Zaheer informed the team of his decision on Thursday, citing differences in vision with the head coach and ownership.
Reason for departure
Sources suggest that Zaheer’s exit was primarily due to a misalignment of strategies and long-term vision with head coach Justin Langer and team owner Sanjeev Goenka. While his relationship with captain Rishabh Pant remained strong, Zaheer reportedly felt disheartened by the team’s slide down the points table during the second half of IPL 2025.
Zaheer had joined LSG in August 2024, filling the vacancy left by Gautam Gambhir after IPL 2023. He was tasked with scouting, planning, and strategy as part of a two-year contract. Prior to this, Zaheer had a successful stint with Mumbai Indians from 2018 to 2022.
LSG’s IPL 2025 season
After making the playoffs in their first two IPL seasons (2022 and 2023), LSG struggled to reach the knockouts in 2024 and 2025. In IPL 2025, the franchise finished seventh, winning six of their 14 matches. The season was marked by inconsistency: LSG won five of their first eight games but managed only one win in their last six. At their home ground, Ekana Stadium, the team won just two out of eight matches.
Strategic moves and player development
Last year, LSG had made headlines for acquiring Rishabh Pant for INR 27 crore (approx. USD 3.2 million), making him the most expensive player in IPL history. The team was structured around him, but Zaheer worked on building long-term strategies to ensure consistent performance across the squad.
Zaheer played a key role in adjusting the batting order. He advised Pant that the better strategy would be for Mitchell Marsh to open alongside Aiden Markram, thereby reducing the burden on Nicholas Pooran at No. 3. This approach gave clarity to the batters and allowed them to play freely.
The strategy proved effective: Marsh scored 627 runs at a strike rate of 163.70, Pooran amassed 524 runs at 196.25, and Markram contributed 445 runs at 148.82 in IPL 2025. This demonstrated the impact of Zaheer’s tactical insights despite the team’s overall inconsistency.
Legacy and future
While Zaheer Khan’s tenure at LSG lasted only a season, his influence on team strategy and player development was significant. The exit underscores the challenges of aligning visions within a franchise, especially in a league as competitive as the IPL.
LSG will now look to appoint a new mentor who can continue the work started by Zaheer while addressing the gaps that led to the team’s underwhelming performance in the latter half of the season.