'We'll have to play good cricket, which is the most significant factor' - LSG mentor Zaheer Khan ahead of IPL 2025

With the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season approaching faster, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) mentor Zaheer Khan has opened up about the team’s preparations. Pointing out the importance of playing good cricket, Zaheer, who has also taken on the role of bowling coach, expressed confidence in LSG’s approach while mentioning the challenges ahead.

The former Indian pacer took up the mentor role at LSG following the exit of Gautam Gambhir, who rejoined Kolkata Knight Riders and later became the head coach of the Indian men’s team. Apart from mentoring, Zaheer has unofficially taken on the responsibilities of a bowling coach after Morne Morkel moved on to join Gambhir’s coaching setup. Having previously worked as Mumbai Indians’ Director of Cricket and Head of Global Development from 2018 to 2022, Zaheer brings a wealth of experience to the Lucknow-based franchise. 

Meanwhile, LSG made a big move by releasing KL Rahul, their former captain, ahead of the IPL 2025 mega-auction. The franchise retained players such as Nicholas Pooran, Mayank Yadav, and Ravi Bishnoi while securing Rishabh Pant in a historic INR 27 crore bid, making him the most expensive player in IPL history. The former India cricketer spoke about the importance of these acquisitions but pointed out that tactical decisions would be crucial for LSG’s success in IPL 2025. 

“These are all tactical things. Game to game we take a case of the format's flexibility. Every team likes to assess which team they are up against and what they are looking to make out of the game. So, we'll think a lot these things and give importance to them before arriving at a decision. We'll have to play good cricket, which is the most significant factor, and we'll be mulling our heads over these things. However, whatever happens tactically, we cannot reveal them here to you,” he said while replying to a query from CricTracker during a media interaction arranged by LSG.

Also Read: Zaheer Khan predicts 2025 Champions Trophy semi-finalists

Young players should learn from the experienced ones: Zaheer

As a mentor, Zaheer is particularly looking forward on guiding young cricketers in the squad. He put weight on the fact that the IPL as a platform where upcoming talents can shine if they receive the right guidance. 

"You can see that whenever the IPL season comes, you will definitely see some game buzzes. Those who get the opportunity to showcase their talent on this platform. So you will definitely always see some good game bowlers who have the talent. And if they get good guidance, they will get better.  They can use this platform in a good way," he added.

The 46-year-old revealed that the new lot of cricketers need to spend time with experienced players and learn from them. He also explained that despite getting overwhelmed by the tournament's stature, they need to treat it as a game going forward. 

"Whatever they have done before coming to IPL, they should not leave it. They may get overwhelmed by the grandeur of this tournament, but this is a game and the way it works is that you get to the point after playing a good game and if you focus on that you will move forward. They have to learn as much as they can. And as much time as you spend with experienced players and ask them how they can make it in different situations, it helps them in a good way," Khan concluded.