Justin Langer accuses KL Rahul of provoking him to say NO to BCCI, Jay Shah refutes falls claims

Former Australian cricketer and current Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) head coach, Justin Langer, has decided not to apply for the Indian cricket team's head coach role. Justin Langer stated that he made this decision after receiving advice from KL Rahul, the skipper of the Lucknow Super Giants.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently invited applications for a new head coach for the Indian men's cricket team, with Rahul Dravid's term ending after the T20 World Cup 2024. According to recent reports, the BCCI has reached out to several former cricketers to replace Dravid.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting revealed he was informally approached during the 2024 IPL but ruled himself out of contention. CSK CEO Kasi Viswanath stated that the team's head coach, Stephen Fleming, is also not interested, as the position would require a year-round commitment.

It Would Be An Amazing Job - Justin Langer

On BBC's Stumped podcast, Justin Langer opened up about the prospect of coaching the Indian cricket team, stating he is not interested in taking on the responsibility at this time. However, Langer mentioned that it would be an incredible job.

"It would be an amazing job, (but) I have (ruled myself out). 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 was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

Justin Langer was appointed as head coach of the Lucknow Super Giants ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. The KL Rahul-led team failed to advance to the playoffs due to a lower net run rate (NRR). They finished seventh in the points table with 14 points in as many matches.

The Pressure Of Doing It In India - Justin Langer

When asked about the possibility of considering the role in the future, Justin Langer revealed his conversation with KL Rahul. Langer mentioned that Rahul highlighted the immense pressure and politics involved in coaching the Indian team. He stated that it was not the right time for him to take it on.

"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 stated.

The former opening batter served as Australia's head coach from May 2018 to February 2022. Langer took over the team's charge after the 2018 ball-tampering scandal. The 53-year-old resigned from the position amid speculation of discord with players, including new captain Pat Cummins.

Meanwhile, BCCI secretary Jay Shah has clearly stated that neither he nor BCCI has contacted any former Australian player for India's Head Coach role. Hence, all the statements coming out in the media are baseless and untrue.

During his tenure, Australia secured their first T20 World Cup win in 2021 in Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They achieved a 4-0 series victory in the Ashes series at home. After Justin Langer's resignation, assistant coach Andrew MacDonald was appointed to the position of head coach.

Also read: Andy Flower blames Mohammed Siraj and company for RCB's exit; hints at Siraj's exclusion next year