IPL 2024: Justin Langer Reveals How Sanjiv Goenka Persuaded Him To Become LSG Head Coach

Former Australian Batter and Head coach, Justin Langer is all set to begin a new assignment in his coaching career in the Indian Premier League after North-Indian outfit Lucknow Super Giants roped him in to become their new head coach ahead of IPL 2024.

In a recent interview with LSG, Langer revealed the actual conversation that took place between him and LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka in their first meeting about the vacant head coach position. The Australian claimed that he was absolutely moved to meet Goenka and called him a great salesman on how he persuaded him to take up the head coach role.

Justin Langer got the first taste of what it’s like to be a part of an IPL team during the mini-auction for IPL 2024 on December 19th at Dubai’s Coca-Cola arena. Before the Auction, he told the press about his excitement to be a part of the World’s best cricketing league and that he could not wait to get started.

The onus will be on him and his tactics as Lucknow Super Giants will look to win the tournament in their 3rd season since entering the league in 2022. For the last 2 seasons, LSG have remained consistent in their quest, finishing 3rd in the league table but have failed to go all the way to the Finals.

With most of LSG’s core team retained, Justin Langer and co. bought 4 local players along with 2 foreign signings in the form of Ashton Turner and David Willey. Their most expensive buy was Indian pacer Shivam Mavi who arrived at a price of 6.40 Crores whereas they bought the next 5 players on their base price. So it was quite a decent and effective Auction but they will be put to test when IPL 2024 begins from March onwards.

“You Can’t Be The Best If You Don’t Win The IPL”, Justin Langer Revisits First Interaction With Sanjiv Goenka

Justin Langer took over as the head coach of the Australian team back in 2018 after the sandpaper gate. His first achievement was helping Australia retain the Ashes series for the first time in 18 years. He won his first major ICC title as a coach in 2021 when the Baggy Greens completed the white-ball set by winning the ICC T20 World Cup in UAE.

But none of his achievements can actually top the essence of winning the Indian Premier League. It is what Sanjiv Goenka said in his pitch to Justin Langer to accept the LSG Head coach role.

“I received a text message asking if I was interested in the coaching in the IPL. It was from Vinay telling me that the owner Sanjiv was in London at the same time and would I be interested in having a coffee with him.” – Langer said.

He is a really good salesman the boss, because the last thing he said to be was you know, Justin, you’ve had a great playing career, you’ve had a very very good coaching career but you can’t consider yourself a great coach until you’ve won the IPL.” – Justin Langer concluded.