Tom Moody Returns to IPL: LSG Appoints Veteran Coach as Global Director of Cricket

Lucknow Super Giants have officially announced the appointment of Tom Moody as their Global Director of Cricket, confirming earlier reports that the 60-year-old Australian would oversee the franchise's cricket operations across multiple leagues. The announcement, made on Tuesday via social media with the tagline "Experience. Vision. Leadership. Welcome aboard the Super Giants Universe, Tom Moody!", marks Moody's return to the IPL after a three-year absence following his departure from Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2022.

The Appointment Confirmed

LSG's announcement formalizes Moody's role as the strategic architect of the RP Sanjiv Goenka Group's cricket empire, which spans three continents and includes franchises in the IPL (Lucknow Super Giants), SA20 (Durban's Super Giants), and The Hundred (Manchester-based franchise).

Moody will work alongside Justin Langer (head coach) and Kane Williamson (strategic advisor) to transform LSG from mid-table performers into championship contenders ahead of IPL 2026.

Moody's Pedigree

Playing Career:

Tests: 8 matches, 1,667 runs

ODIs: 76 matches, 1,667 runs and 54 wickets combined

Sheffield Shield: 21,000+ first-class runs, 64 centuries, 361 wickets

Coaching Highlights:

Sunrisers Hyderabad (2013-2019): IPL 2016 champions

Oval Invincibles (2023-2025): Three consecutive Hundred titles

Desert Vipers (ILT20): Two runner-up finishes

The LSG Challenge

LSG finished seventh in IPL 2025 with just six wins from 14 matches after reaching the playoffs in their first two seasons (2022, 2023). Moody's appointment signals the franchise's determination to reverse this decline through experienced leadership and strategic planning.

His first major task will be overseeing the IPL 2026 mega auction, where he'll shape the squad that will compete under his strategic vision.

Replacing Zaheer Khan

Moody takes over the role previously held by Zaheer Khan, who parted ways with LSG after just one season in September 2025. While Zaheer brought playing credentials as India's legendary fast bowler, Moody offers three decades of coaching experience across multiple formats and franchises.

The Multi-Franchise Model

As Global Director, Moody will oversee cricket operations across:

IPL: Lucknow Super Giants

SA20: Durban's Super Giants

The Hundred: Manchester franchise

This unified approach allows cross-pollination of strategies, player development systems, and tactical innovations across leagues—potentially giving RPSG franchises a competitive advantage.