Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka has officially announced that former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson will join the franchise as its new Strategic Advisor, effective ahead of the IPL 2026 season. The team, which concluded the 2025 season in a disappointing seventh place, is now focused on a significant rebuild. This comes despite having top talent like Rishabh Pant, who made headlines as the highest-paid IPL player after securing a massive ₹27 crore deal at the auction.
“Kane has been a part of the Super Giants family and it’s an absolute delight to welcome him in his new role,” Goenka shared on X. He further emphasized, “His leadership, strategic insight, deep understanding of the game, and ability to inspire players make him an invaluable addition to the team.”
This appointment sees Williamson stepping into the shoes of Zaheer Khan, who served as LSG’s mentor last season. Reports indicate that Goenka has long admired the Kiwi star for his calm leadership and exceptional tactical prowess—qualities that have consistently enabled New Zealand to exceed expectations in major international tournaments.
Despite being 35, Williamson remains an active international cricketer, though he recently opted out of New Zealand’s central contract to explore more franchise opportunities globally. His illustrious career boasts 9,276 runs in 105 Test matches and 7,236 runs in 173 One Day Internationals, showcasing an average and temperament that firmly place him among cricket’s modern greats.
In the IPL, Williamson previously captained Sunrisers Hyderabad to the 2018 final and also had stints with Gujarat Titans. Now, in his new capacity with Lucknow, he will be instrumental in developing the team’s cricketing strategy, working closely alongside head coach Justin Langer to build a formidable squad for the upcoming seasons.
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