IPL 2026 LSG: According to reports, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are planning to part ways with their mentor and bowling coach Zaheer Khan ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. Zaheer had replaced Gautam Gambhir as LSG’s mentor and also took charge of the bowling department after Morne Morkel joined the Indian national team’s support staff.
LSG had a promising start in the IPL, reaching the playoffs in both 2022 and 2023, their first two seasons. However, their performance dropped in the last two years, finishing seventh in both IPL 2024 and IPL 2025.
LSG Likely to End Zaheer Khan’s Tenure But Rishabh Pant’s Captaincy Could Not Change
Ahead of IPL 2025, Lucknow made a big move in the mega auction by signing star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant for a record INR 27 crore. Pant replaced KL Rahul as captain, but the change did not bring the expected success. LSG’s performance remained inconsistent throughout the season, ending with six wins and eight defeats from 14 matches.
Sources suggest that the franchise’s owner, Sanjiv Goenka, will soon announce a new mentor with an expanded role to oversee the cricket operations of RPSG Group’s other teams, including Durban Super Giants in SA20 and Manchester Originals in The Hundred.
Possible Changes in LSG Support Staff for IPL 2026
Reports indicate that along with Zaheer’s exit, LSG is also working on strengthening its coaching setup. Recently, the franchise appointed Bharat Arun as their new bowling coach. Arun has a proven track record, having served as India’s bowling coach and helping the team achieve historic overseas Test victories. He was also part of the Kolkata Knight Riders’ coaching staff in recent seasons.
Before joining LSG, Zaheer Khan worked with the Mumbai Indians from 2018 to 2022, first as Director of Cricket and later as head of global development. He guided MI to IPL titles in 2019 and 2020.
With a fresh coaching strategy and potential new leadership, LSG will aim to bounce back strongly in IPL 2026 after two disappointing seasons. The official announcement regarding Zaheer Khan’s replacement is expected soon.
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