Lucknow Super Giants have seen plenty of changes in their short IPL journey and another big one came this week. Mentor Zaheer Khan - who joined the team just last season, has decided to step away from the role.
His departure comes after a disappointing campaign where the side struggled to maintain early momentum and eventually finished outside the playoff spots.
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While Zaheer was expected to be part of the franchise's long-term vision, differences behind the scenes meant his stint ended earlier than planned.
Zaheer Khan's vision clashed with LSG leadership
According to ESPNcricinfo, Zaheer's main reason for leaving was a lack of alignment with head coach Justin Langer and team owner Sanjeev Goenka.
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It is understood that while his bond with captain Rishabh Pant remained strong, Zaheer was unsettled by what was described as "cluttered thinking" within the management. This discord played a role in the franchise's slide during the latter half of IPL 2025.
Zaheer Khan’s journey from Mumbai Indians to Lucknow Super Giants
Zaheer came into LSG in August 2024 - replacing Gautam Gambhir, who had moved to Kolkata Knight Riders before becoming India's head coach. Prior to Lucknow, Zaheer had a long stint with Mumbai Indians between 2018 and 2022 where he was heavily involved in scouting and strategy.
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At LSG, he signed a two-year deal and was tasked with building the squad around marquee signing Rishabh Pant who became the most expensive player in IPL history at ₹27 crore.
Mixed season for LSG in IPL 2025
LSG's season was a tale of two halves. They started strong - winning five of their first eight matches but could only add one more win in the next six.
The dip left them seventh on the points table with just six wins overall. Their home form was also a concern with only two wins in eight games at the Ekana Stadium.
Despite the struggles, some of Zaheer's tactical calls worked well. He pushed for Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram to open - allowing Nicholas Pooran to bat at No. 3.
The move paid off with Marsh finishing as the tournament's fifth-highest run-scorer. With Zaheer gone, LSG will now need to rethink their leadership structure as they prepare for IPL 2026.
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