Former India keeper MSK Prasad said that the calming influence of new Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) coach Justin Langer will bring the best out of LSG captain KL Rahul in the upcoming IPL 2024.
LSG's choice to name the former Australia head coach Justin Langer to guide the team in the 2024 Indian Premier League received high marks from MSK Prasad. After the former Zimbabwe captain Andy Flower’s two-year term ended at the end of the previous season, Langer took over as the team's head coach.
MSK Prasad revealed that Justin Langer is someone who meditates for 3 hours a day and radiates calmness, expressing confidence that it would be reflected in the way Lucknow play their cricket in IPL 2024. Langer had led the Perth Scorchers to three BBL titles and coached Australia to its only T20 World Cup crown in 2021.
"You're talking about KL Rahul being calm. I think you can't get a calmer person than Justin Langer. Can you believe he does close to three hours of meditation every day and if you are on your own, with that person, you feel that kind of calmness, you feel that kind of serenity?
Whatever has been portrayed about him is different from the person that he is. We got in touch with each other for the last 3–4 months, so he's a different person. But he knows how to control his emotions. He's got enough titles while working for Perth Scorchers. He's got a bit of success in T20 cricket in the Big Bash League as well as with the Australian cricket team," MSK Prasad said in a press conference organized by Star Sports.
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Under Flower's coaching, LSG managed to reach the play-offs in the last two years.
MSK Prasad revealed that Justin Langer and KL Rahul have been in touch over the last 3 months and that he is hopeful that Langer's influence will bring the best out of the captain in the Indian star.
"So, for me, you know, what is going to be the biggest gaining factor is how he is going to mould KL Rahul. Or, in fact, they have been in touch with each other for the last 3 months, talking on a day-to-day basis. KL Rahul has also been a vice-captain of India and has also led the Indian team, but at times he holds himself back a bit. So probably, I think, with Justin Langer coming into the LSG side, we'll see a different KL Rahul in the upcoming season.
Hopefully, whatever the games that LSG is going to have, hopefully even Team India is going to benefit. He is definitely a very good wicketkeeper. As we have seen suddenly, 6 months and 7 months after the injury, he came into the World Cup and the impact he created there with bat and gloves speaks volumes about him. KL Rahul is an introvert sort of person. He doesn't really express himself outside, but I hope Langer's influence will get the best out of him. Hopefully, we will unearth a new captain in KL Rahul for the future,” Prasad added.
LSG will play their first match of IPL 2024 against Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on March 24, Sunday.
(Star Sports inputs)
