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[Saba Sports News] The role of head coach for Team India is a prestigious position within the cricket world, reflecting the team’s storied history and vast fan base. This role carries significant honor and responsibility, steering a team renowned globally.
Rahul Dravid’s term as head coach will conclude after the T20 World Cup 2024. He assumed this role following India’s unexpected early exit from the 2021 tournament, which led to substantial changes aimed at improving the team’s performance. As Dravid’s tenure nears its end, the BCCI has begun soliciting applications for his successor.
Justin Langer, currently the head coach for the Lucknow Super Giants, recently addressed speculation about his interest in the Team India coaching job. Following LSG’s 18-run win over Mumbai Indians, which marked the end of their IPL 2024 campaign, Langer commented on the demanding nature of the role. He acknowledged the immense cricket commitments and expectations but described it as a great challenge and an opportunity to win ICC titles.
“It would almost be the biggest job in cricket – being the head coach of the Indian cricket team. One, because of the huge volume of cricket, the huge expectation. It would be a great challenge. It would be great fun, and it would be a wonderful opportunity to win ICC titles,” Langer stated after the match on Friday, May 17.
While Langer expressed admiration for the position, he hinted at his reluctance to pursue it, focusing instead on the potential excitement for the next coach. “I’m sure the next person who gets the job will be really looking forward to the project,” he added.
Langer, who coached Australia from 2018 to 2022, emphasized the role’s demands, describing it as all-encompassing and exhausting. He suggested that former coaches like Dravid and Ravi Shastri would likely echo his sentiments about the intense pressure and expectations associated with coaching the Indian team.
“But with all these things, the timing has got to be right. I did four or so years with the Australian cricket team. It is all-encompassing. It is exhausting. Rahul Dravid will probably tell you the same thing, and Ravi Shastri will probably tell you the same thing. The pressure on winning for the Indian team is massive,” Langer concluded.