Kane Williamson Joins LSG As Strategic Advisor Ahead of IPL 2026

Kane Williamson joined Lucknow Super Giants as a strategic advisor ahead of the 2026 IPL season.

Kane Williamson has joined the IPL franchise Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) as a strategic advisor ahead of the 2026 season, team owner Sanjiv Goenka announced on social media on Thursday. Alongside the appointment, Carl Crowe has also joined the team as the spin-bowling coach.

The franchise confirmed that Justin Langer and Bharat Arun will continue as head coach and fast-bowling coach, respectively.

Praising the 35-year-old former New Zealand captain, Goenka wrote, “His leadership, strategic insight, deep understanding of the game, and ability to inspire players make him an invaluable addition to the team.”

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Kane Williamson Expresses Excitement!

Williamson expressed his excitement about the new role, saying, “I’m really excited to be joining LSG. They have a hugely talented squad and a great group of coaches which I’m looking forward to working alongside. It’s always special being involved in the IPL, the best franchise competition in the game.”

Williamson, who previously represented the Durban Super Giants in the SA20, last played for New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final against India in March 2025. Though he has not retired from international cricket, he has opted for a casual contract with New Zealand Cricket, which means his future appearances will be limited.

He will miss the upcoming T20I series against England at home but is eyeing a comeback in the ODI series, beginning on October 26 in his hometown, Tauranga.

Kane Williamson’s Whereabouts

A veteran of the IPL, Kane Williamson’s involvement in recent seasons has been minimal. In IPL 2023, while playing for Gujarat Titans (GT), he sustained a knee injury in the opening match and was ruled out for the season. The following year, IPL 2024, also with GT, he featured in only two games, scoring 27 runs off 27 balls. He went unsold at the IPL 2025 mega auction.

Recently, Williamson played in The Hundred for London Spirit, where he scored 204 runs in eight innings at a strike rate of 129.93, helping his side to a seventh-place finish.

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Though Williamson is new to a support staff role, he commands immense respect in international cricket. He led New Zealand to the 2019 ODI World Cup final and clinched the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021.

LSG, captained by Rishabh Pant and coached by Justin Langer, finished seventh in both IPL 2024 and IPL 2025, after finishing third in their debut seasons of 2022 and 2023.

Williamson’s move follows discussions with LSG management after he was not retained by Durban Super Giants in SA20 2024. Meanwhile, Carl Crowe becomes the second coach from Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to move to LSG after Bharat Arun, who joined in July 2025. Arun had served as KKR’s bowling coach for three seasons.

Last Updated on October 16, 2025