Sanjiv Goenka and Kane Williamson (X)

Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka announced that former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has joined the franchise as their new Strategic Advisor ahead of IPL 2026. The franchise, which finished seventh in the 2025 season, will be looking to rebuild after a disappointing campaign despite boasting some of the biggest names in world cricket, including Rishabh Pant — who became the highest-paid player in IPL history with a ₹27 crore deal at the auction.

Sanjiv Goenka X post

“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. “His leadership, strategic insight, deep understanding of the game, and ability to inspire players make him an invaluable addition to the team.” As reported earlier by TOI, Williamson replaces Zaheer Khan, who served as LSG’s mentor last season. The appointment reflects Goenka’s long-standing admiration for the Kiwi star’s calm leadership and tactical sharpness, traits that helped New Zealand punch above their weight in global tournaments.Also read: Kane Williamson to be Lucknow Super Giants’ strategic adviser; Justin Langer retained as head coach, Carl Crowe appointed spin coach Williamson, 35, remains an active international cricketer but opted out of New Zealand’s central contract to explore franchise opportunities. Over his illustrious career, he has scored 9,276 runs in 105 Tests and 7,236 runs in 173 ODIs, with an average and temperament that rank among the finest in modern cricket. In the IPL, Williamson represented Sunrisers Hyderabad for several years, even leading them to the 2018 final, before short stints with Gujarat Titans. Now, his role at Lucknow will be about shaping the team’s cricketing blueprint alongside head coach Justin Langer.