Zaheer Khan faces heat after IPL 2025 flop show; will Sanjiv Goenka renew LSG mentor's contract? Here's what report says

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) mentor Zaheer Khan is facing the heat after the Sanjiv Goenka-owned franchise finished sixth in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 that concluded on Tuesday. With Rishabh Pant as captain, LSG could register just six wins from 14 games.

Ahead of the IPL 2025, Zaheer was roped in as the mentor of Lucknow Super Giants, thus filling the vacant spot created by Gautam Gambhir after he joined Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) before IPL 2024.

According to a Cricbuzz report, Zaheer, who signed a one-year contract, is unlikely to get an extension for the next edition of the IPL. Brought in to work alongside LSG's head coach Justin Langer, it is understood that there is a sense of dissatisfaction within the squad and the management.

Earlier, it was reported that Langer is likely to face the axe. But if reports are to be believed, the focus is more on Zaheer Khan than on Justin Langer. For the last two seasons, LSG have not been able to make the playoffs.

As LSG prepares for the next IPL cycle, major personnel changes in the camp would not come as a surprise. Although no official comments have been made yet, it is clear that something is certainly cooking behind the scenes.  

Zaheer's rapport with LSG players

If pictures on social media are to be believed, Zaheer enjoyed a great rapport with captain Rishabh Pant. However, the LSG captain did not have a great season until their final game, when the left-hander smashed a whirlwind century. In 14 games, Pant managed 269 runs, thus drawing severe criticism from fans and experts outside. 

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