Former Australia opener Justin Langer has opted out of the race to become India’s head coach after a “good bit of advice” from KL Rahul. Langer, who coached Australia for four years, was recently associated with Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL 2024. The legendary opener has been linked with India’s head coach role which will fall vacant after the T20 World Cup 2024.
Current coach Rahul Dravid’s contract will finish at the end of the ICC event and there are reports that he is not keen to continue. BCCI has already invited applications for the job.
Besides Langer, a number of big names including that of Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming and Delhi Capitals’ RIcky Pontiny have been linked with the job. However, Langer has ruled himself out of the race.
“It would be an awesome job, but not for me at the moment,” Langer told BBC’s Stumped Podcast. “I also know that it’s an all-encompassing role, and having done it for four years with the Australian team, honestly, it’s exhausting. And that’s the Australian job.”
Langer revealed that a piece of advice from LSG captain Rahul about the pressure and politics in Team India was also behind his decision.
“You never say never. And the pressure of doing it in India, I was talking to KL Rahul and he said, ‘You know if you think there’s pressure and politics in an IPL team, multiply that by a thousand, coaching India’. That was a good bit of advice, I guess,” he revealed.
Langer is not the only big name to decide against joining Team India.
Ponting recently said that he will not be applying for the job as his current “lifestyle” doesn’t allow him to take out time for it while Royal Challengers Bangalore coach Andy Flower said he won’t be applying as he is happy with franchise cricket .
Coming back to Langer.
The former opener led Australia to the 2021 T20 World Cup title and Ashes victory as a coach but his first year in IPL 2024 saw LSG miss out on the playoffs for the first time.
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