LSG To Part Ways With Zaheer Khan, Fill 2 New Positions: Report
Lucknow Super Giants will part ways with mentor Zaheer Khan after his contract ends. Bharat Arun joins as the new bowling coach. LSG plans to appoint a new mentor.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are set to part ways with mentor Zaheer Khan after the expiry of his one-year-long contract assigned last month. According to a report in The Times of India, LSG will sign a new mentor and will give them a 'bigger role' encompassing their sister franchises in other competitions — Durban's Super Giants in the South Africa 20 (SA20) and the Manchester Originals in The Hundred.
The report added that LSG will also announce a Director of Cricket to oversee the 'year-round development' of the entire LSG group. Zaheer had replaced Gautam Gambhir in the mentor role after the latter moved to Kolkata Knight Riders in 2023. The former India seamer was also doubling up as the bowling coach since Morne Morkel's exit, who left his role to work alongside Gambhir and the Indian men's cricket team in 2024.
Recently, LSG announced Bharat Arun, the former India and KKR bowling coach, in the same role here.
'Arun's role is also extensive as he will be given an extra responsibility for scouting and working on their young quicks for Durban's Super Giants and, from next year, with the Manchester Originals as well," the source in the report added.
LSG had an underwhelming season, finishing seventh with six wins from 14 games.
Bharat Arun's mission
In a statement, Bharat Arun, who'd join the coaching staff led by Justin Langer, had said his aim was to help shape LSG into a 'cohesive and tactically sharp' unit.
'It's an honour to join the Lucknow Super Giants, a franchise that reflects professionalism, ambition, and vision at every level," Arun said. 'My conversations with Dr. Sanjiv Goenka and the management were incredibly energizing — there is a clear intent to invest in young Indian talent and build a long-term legacy. What excites me most is the vision for long-term development. LSG has invested in a young, talented, and dynamic group of Indian fast bowlers — Akash Deep, Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav, Prince Yadav, Mohsin Khan, and Akash Singh — and I see immense potential in each of them. My mission is to help shape them into a cohesive, fearless, and tactically sharp pace unit that can challenge the best batting line-ups in the world."
Zaheer, who has previously worked with Mumbai Indians, could be in line for several coaching jobs that might open up in the league before the 2026 season.
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