Former Australian cricketer Justin Langer was reportedly among the frontrunners considered for the role of India's next head coach. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been exploring various options to replace Rahul Dravid, whose contract will conclude after the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. However, the Lucknow Super Giants head coach, Justin Langer, has withdrawn from consideration and gave a conversation with KL Rahul that he had as a reason for it.
Langer stated, while talking on BBC’s ‘Stumped’ podcast, that a conversation with the LSG captain KL Rahul let him know about the politics and pressure associated with the role, leading him to decide against applying. Langer said that Rahul told him that the 'politics and pressure' faced by the Indian cricket team head coach are almost 'a thousand times' greater than those experienced by any IPL coach.
Coaching A National Team Is Exhausting: Justin Langer
"It would be an amazing job, [but] I have [put myself out of the running]. 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!"
KL Rahul’s Advice For Justin Langer
Langer mentioned that KL Rahul advised him about the immense pressure and politics involved in coaching India, stating it is a thousand times greater than in an IPL team. While acknowledging that coaching India would be an awesome job, Langer concluded that it is not the right fit for him at the moment.
"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. (That's) coaching India. That was a good bit of advice, I guess. It would be an awesome job, but not for me at the moment," Langer said further.
Earlier, Langer’s former Australian teammate, Ricky Ponting also made his intentions clear of not wanting to take on the role of Indian head coach at the moment.