IPL: Lucknow Super Giants remain tight-lipped on KL Rahul

IPL side welcomes Zaheer Khan as mentor
KOLKATA: Lucknow Super Giants unveiled former India pacer Zaheer Khan as their mentor for the coming season here on Wednesday.
"As a mentor, it will be my responsibility to build the culture of cricket at LSG," Zaheer said. Team owner Sanjiv Goenka said, "I needed somebody with a habit of winning and Zaheer comes with that mindset."
Goenka and Zaheer took time out to speak to TOI on various issues.
Excerpts...
Are you retaining KL Rahul?
SG: Do you expect us to talk about retention policy three months in advance? I mean, which team is going to disclose who they are retaining? I don't think it would be right to expect us to share that. Having said that, Rahul has been a very integral and important part of the Super Giants family.
As far as I am personally concerned, he is part of my family. ZK: At this stage all we can say is that Rahul is a top man and he has been part of Lucknow Super Giants since the inception, something that is very special. We recognise his contribution.
In case he is retained, will he stay as the captain?
SG: At this stage, I am not willing to discuss retention or anything related to that.
A lot has been said about your chat with Rahul after the 10-wkt loss to SRH. What had transpired?
SG: In an interview, Justin Langer (coach) has shared exactly what had happened. That's what it was, what is the point in repeating it (Langer had referred to the incident as a storm in an espresso cup).
ECB has expressed keenness to have IPL team owners on board for The Hundred. Are you interested?
SG: We are certainly examining the prospect and whether we are interested or not depends on the terms and conditions and that we don't know until the tender documents are out.

ECB has indicated they will not give control to the IPL owners...
SG: If you are not going to give control, then what are we getting? We don't know yet.
Zaheer, your take on the Impact Sub rule in the IPL...
ZK: I look at the positive side of it. I feel a genuine allrounder can never be stopped. He will still have his value in gold. But what is nice about this rule is that it's allowing one more uncapped Indian player to showcase his talent. You have seen in the past two years that enough number of such players have got the opportunity because of this rule and they shone. The future looks bright for them, something you'll see in the mega-auction when they go for decent money.
Zaheer, you have experience as a top-class player as well as managing players. How do you see your new role as mentor of LSG?
ZK: I believe that as a mentor, it will be my responsibility to cultivate and nurture the cricketing culture, which is already being established. I am perceiving this team as an incredibly consistent unit, regularly reaching the playoffs. Over the course of eighteen years of IPL, we have witnessed the immense challenges faced by numerous teams, but the ability to consistently achieve this feat speaks volumes about the robust processes already in place. For me, it's about elevating the team.
Are you fine with mega auctions every few years which can disturb the team balance?
SG: Yes, I am okay with the mega auction.