Zaheer Khan set to be Lucknow’s Bowling coach and Mentor for Indian T20 League 2025

Ex-Indian pacestar Zaheer Khan has been contacted by the Indian T20 League franchise Lucknow for a dual role in the coaching unit, as per media reports.

Lucknow, who has made it into the playoffs twice in his three-year tenure, has been without a mentor since the former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir left the franchise to reunite with his old club, Kolkata, for the same role, before joining the Indian senior cricket team as their head coach. The franchise also lost its bowling coach Monre Morkel at the end of 2024, as the former South African speedster also joined Gambhir’s support staff, as the Indian team’s bowling coach. 

As per reports, if Lucknow can make a deal with Zaheer Khan, the ex-Indian pacer will be handed over the mentorship and the bowling coach role in the upcoming Indian T20 League season. Hence, Zaheer is expected to be working with head coach Justin Langer, Adam Voges, Jonty Rhodes and Lance Klusener as other coaching staff.

The former Indian fast bowler was earlier in contention for the role of bowling coach of the Indian senior cricket team before Gambhir himself requested the Indian Cricket Board to assign Monre Morkel for the role. The 2011 WC champion represented India in 92 Tests, 200 ODIs and 17 T20Is and also participated in 100 Indian T20 League games. This will be his second coaching term in the cash-rich league having previously worked with the five-time champions Mumbai.