Former Australia opener Justin Langer is all set to make his coaching debut in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with the 2024 edition, slated to get underway on March 22.
Langer, who boasts an impressive CV as a coach, has been roped in by the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) franchise. Ahead of his first IPL assignment, the 53-year-old shared an important message for his LSG wards, including skipper KL Rahul.
Langer said national hopefuls will automatically be rewarded with a spot in the T20 World Cup 2024 squad if they do well for the franchise in the upcoming IPL season.
Rahul, who is set to make a comeback after recovering from a quadriceps injury, has not played in the shortest format for India since the T20 World Cup 2022 and only a good IPL with both the bat and gloves can seal the deal for him.
"If the team does well, everyone gets rewarded. If KL can captain LSG to IPL title, that means he would have captained well, batted well and kept wickets well," Langer replied to a PTI query during a season-opening media interaction on Wednesday (March 20).
"The message for players, like KL or Bishi (Bishnoi) will be that more they concentrate on playing well for LSG, their chances (of WT20 call-up) will increase," he added.
Justin Langer feels coaching an IPL franchise is quite similar to coaching an international team.
"It is only at domestic level that you get players for pre-season. At international level, players only assemble before competition phase. So it is pretty similar."
Having guided Australia to a T20 World Cup title, Langer said that he knows the "blue-print of success" but it will be important to execute the plans.
"I have been sleeping well for the past two years after I left coaching Australia. Now I will have sleepless nights in fitting so much talent in just 11 slots," he said.
With Mark Wood and David Willey ruled out of the tournament, LSG’s pace bowling sources look thin. Shivam Mavi, the injury prone pacer, hasn't played competitive cricket since August 2023 while Delhi's talented tearaway quick Mayank Yadav was out of the entire Ranji Trophy season with a side strain.
Mohsin Khan, the find of the 2022 IPL, has had injury issues and Yash Thakur isn't very experienced at the tournament level.
"It is a very good observation that we lack some experience in pace department but there is enormous talent. The pacers -- they all look fit, healthy and hungry.
"We need to manage them well not just at start but through the whole tournament. Among pacers Naveen (ul Haq) has played a lot of T20 cricket," Langer remarked.
West Indies pace sensation Shamar Joseph impressed one and all with his performances during the recent Test tour of Australia.
While Joseph has a very little T20 experience, Langer expects the Caribbean youngster to flourish in IPL 2024.
"He didn't have experience even before going into two Test matches," Langer said. "I was commentating and I saw him take seven wickets in 37 degrees, 80 per cent humidity and a broken toe. He is an incredible athlete. Smile, spirit, athleticism and skill, he has got all those ingredients that you need to succeed."
Tamil Nadu's left-arm spinner M Siddharth has also impressed the seasoned coach.
"He (Bishnoi) is an outstanding bowler. I love his energy. I watched his training. There is no better pure leg-spinner than Mishi (Mishra's nickname). I saw young M Siddarth, who bowled a maiden over first-up in a training game. There is Krishnappa Gowtham," Langer stated.
Lucknow Super Giants will open their IPL 2024 campaign against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur on Sunday (March 24).
(With PTI Inputs)
