Zaheer Khan Parts Ways With Lucknow Super Giants: Report | Cricket News

Zaheer Khan parts ways with LSG. (Picture Credit: PTI)

Former Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan, who joined Lucknow Super Giants as a mentor ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, has parted ways with the Lucknow-based franchise. According to ESPN Cricinfo, the former Delhi Capitals skipper informed the Sajiv Goenka-owned franchise about his decision on Thursday, September 18.

According to the available information, the main reason for Zaheer deciding to quit LSG just after one season is that “his vision for the franchise did not align with that of head coach Justin Langer and team owner Sanjeev Goenka.”

It is understood that Zaheer has a strong relationship with LSG captain Rishabh Pant, but “he was affected by the cluttered thinking, which played a role in LSG sliding down the points table in the second half of IPL 2025.”

Zaheer, who was India’s highest wicket-taker in 2011 ODI World Cup, replaced Gautam Gambhir as mentor of LSG for IPL 2025. He was signed a two-year contract with LSG in August 2024 and had taken charge of scouting, planning and strategy.

LSG to release Mayank?

LSG retained Indian pacer Mayank Yadav for Rs 11 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, but due to injury-related issues, the Delhi-based cricketer could only manage to play two matches in the cash-rich league this year for the Rishabh Pant-led side. In all likelihood, LSG, which failed to qualify for the playoffs in IPL 2025, will release Mayank ahead of the IPL 2026 mini auctions.

In addition to Mayank, pacer Mohsin Khan, spinner Ravi Bishnoi and South African middle-order batter David Miller could also be released by the Lucknow-based franchise. Mohsin and Bishnoi were retained by LSG ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, but Bishnoi failed to live up to the expectations, and Mohsin missed the entire season due to injury. On the other hand, Miller, who has also played for RR, GT and PBKS in the past, could only manage to score 153 runs in 11 matches.