Former India bowling coach Bharat Arun has been officially appointed as the new bowling coach of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), succeeding Zaheer Khan, ahead of the IPL 2025 season.
Arun brings a wealth of experience to the franchise, having most recently served as the bowling consultant for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) — a stint that lasted four years and culminated in the team winning the IPL 2024 title. His new role at LSG will primarily involve scouting domestic talent and overseeing the year-round development of young fast bowlers, with an aim to strengthen the franchise’s bowling depth.
Zaheer Khan, the former Indian pacer and 2011 World Cup winner, previously held the position of team mentor at Lucknow Super Giants. Despite high expectations, the team finished seventh in the IPL 2024 points table and failed to secure a spot in the playoffs. With LSG looking to restructure its coaching setup, Arun is expected to play a key role in their bid for a stronger comeback.
In addition to his time with KKR, Bharat Arun was also associated with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) backroom staff between 2015 and 2017. He is widely regarded for his successful tenure with the Indian national team, where he played an instrumental role in developing a world-class pace attack featuring Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Ishant Sharma.
Arun’s appointment is seen as a strategic move to bolster the LSG bowling unit with his technical expertise, talent identification skills, and ability to nurture young players. With a new coach in place and a renewed focus on development, Lucknow Super Giants aim to bounce back stronger in IPL 2025.