Zaheer Khan quits Sanjiv Goenka's Lucknow Super Giants after just one IPL season; ex-India pacer leaves LSG because…

Former India pacer Zaheer Khan has stepped down from his post at Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) after just one year ahead of the upcoming season of Indian Premier League. Zaheer was appointed as the mentor of LSG in 2024 after Gautam Gambhir left the franchise in 2023. According to a ESPNCricinfo report, Zaheer has informed about his decision to LSG management on Thursday.

Before joining LSG, Zaheer was associated with five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians from 2018 to 2022. At LSG, the former Indian pacer signed a two-year contract and took charge of scouting, planning and strategy. The report stated that Zaheer's decision to part ways with LSG came after his vision didn't align with that of head Justin Langer and franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka and was affected by cluttered thinking.

In IPL 2025, LSG finished seventh n the points table with 12 points. They won just six matches and lost eight games under new captain Rishabh Pant, who became the costliest player at ₹27 crores. Having made their IPL debut in 2022, LSG made the playoffs in their first two years.

Since the departure of Gambhir, LSG have failed to make it to the top four after the league stage. In IPL 2025, LSG managed five wins in their first eight games but won just one in their final six. At their home ground at Ekana Stadium, LSG could win only two matches.

LSG make headlines with Rishabh Pant buy

LSG had made the headline at the mega auction when they bought Pant for ₹27 crore. The team was built around him, but Zaheer quickly put in place the building blocks he felt could become stronger every season.

Despite there being a lot of chatter about Pant to open, Zaheer spoke to the talismanic keeper-batter early on and told him that the better strategy would be to have Mitchell Marsh open with Aiden Markram. That strategy, Zaheer impressed on both Pant and the leadership group, would reduce the burden on their best batter, Nicholas Pooran at No. 3.