In a significant move ahead of the IPL 2026 season, New Zealand legend Kane Williamson has officially joined Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) as their new Strategic Adviser, replacing former mentor Zaheer Khan. The announcement was made by LSG owner Dr. Sanjiv Goenka, who revealed that Williamson’s calm leadership style, tactical acumen, and inspirational presence made him the ideal fit for the franchise’s evolving think tank.
Williamson, 35, joins a revamped LSG coaching staff that also includes Justin Langer (retained as head coach), Bharat Arun (fast-bowling coach), and the newly appointed Carl Crowe as spin-bowling coach. Crowe previously worked with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and is best known for mentoring spin stars like Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy.
“His leadership, strategic insight, deep understanding of the game, and ability to inspire players make him an invaluable addition to the team,” Goenka said in a social media announcement.
From Player to Strategist
Though he went unsold at the IPL 2025 mega auction, Williamson’s IPL career spans nearly a decade, having played for Sunrisers Hyderabad (2015–2022) and Gujarat Titans (2023–2024). His standout season came in 2018, when he won the Orange Cap with 735 runs and led SRH to the finals.
While Williamson has no prior experience in a coaching or advisory role, his reputation as one of the most astute leaders in world cricket makes this a natural progression. He previously led New Zealand to the 2019 ODI World Cup final, the 2021 T20 World Cup final, and a historic win in the inaugural World Test Championship.
He was also part of the Durban Super Giants in SA20 2024, a franchise also owned by the Goenka Group, although he was not retained for the following season. This connection laid the groundwork for his current role with LSG.
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Also, read the official announcement on ESPNcricinfo Williamson-LSG coverage
for further insights and official quotes.
LSG’s Strategic Overhaul
The appointment of Williamson and Crowe reflects a strategic shift by LSG to strengthen their backroom leadership. After two disappointing seasons where they finished 7th in both IPL 2024 and IPL 2025, the franchise is aiming for a course correction.
“Sometimes you have a good season, sometimes a bad one. But our focus is on improving the percentage of good seasons,” Goenka added.
LSG will once again be led by Rishabh Pant on the field, with Langer and the newly assembled coaching staff working behind the scenes to sharpen tactics and player development. The franchise is particularly focused on the IPL 2026 auction, where Williamson is expected to play a key role in squad planning.
Langer Confirms Team’s Direction
Head coach Justin Langer emphasized that the team has been hard at work since the end of the last season.
“We enter every IPL season full of hope and expectation — 2026 is no exception… The hope, expectation, and passion for LSG is growing strongly,” said Langer.
As IPL 2026 draws closer, all eyes will be on how Williamson’s influence shapes LSG’s fortunes — not with the bat this time, but from the dugout, where his quiet authority and game sense could be game-changers.