Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) head coach Justin Langer will be guiding a team in the IPL for the first time and he will be working with captain KL Rahul in the upcoming IPL 2024.

Langer will have his work cut out for LSG, who have made it into the playoffs in both their first two seasons but are yet to qualify for the final. KL Rahul had to miss the second half of the IPL 2023 after suffering a hip injury.

However, Rahul returned to action with Asia Cup 2023 and had an excellent tournament and carried his rich vein of form in the World Cup 2023 as well. Langer heaped rich praise on the LSG captain, describing him as a "beautiful, elegant-looking player."

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“When I was an Australian coach and we had a series against India, I never used to relax until Virat Kohli and KL Rahul got out. Because he is (Rahul) so dangerous player and he is such a beautiful elegant looking player.

He has experience. He can play on both sides of the ground. He plays spin and quick bowling well. I feel really grateful and I feel blessed to have a captain like KL Rahul. I am excited about that (teaming with KL Rahul)," Langer said in a video uploaded by the LSG's official X handle.

In 30 international matches this year, Rahul scored 1,203 runs at an average of 57.28, with the best score of 111*. He scored three centuries and seven fifties this year. In the three Tests he played this year, Rahul scored 143 runs across five innings at an average of 28.60, with the best score of 101, a century that he struck in his comeback Test against South Africa in Centurion.

(ANI inputs)