‘Multiply pressure and politics in IPL by thousand, that’s coaching India’

Justin Langer, the current head coach of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), has become the latest candidate after Ricky Ponting to rule himself out of contention to take up the role of the head coach of the Indian Men’s team, that is set to be vacated by Rahul Dravid post the T20 World Cup in June. 

Dravid took over the reins from Ravi Shastri post the T20 World Cup in UAE in 2021, but the former India skipper looks certain to walk away from the role once his contract expires next month. 

Gautam Gambhir and Stephen Fleming are among names reportedly targeted by the BCCI, but Ponting hinted earlier today (May 23) that he’d had discussions [regarding coaching India] during the IPL.

"Normally these things pop up on social media before you even know about them, but there were a few little one-on-one conversations during the IPL, just to get a level of interest from me as to whether I would do it,” Ponting had revealed.

However, he said that he shot down the suggestion instantly due to the taxing nature of the role.

Langer, former Australia head coach, has now followed suit and has revealed that he wouldn’t be interested in being the head coach of team India due to the exhaustive nature of the role.

"It would be an amazing job, [but] I have [put myself out of contention]," Langer said on BBC's Stumped podcast, reported ESPNcricinfo.

"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 added that he received precious words of wisdom from none other than LSG captain, KL Rahul.

 "You never say never. And the pressure of doing it in India… I was talking to KL Rahul [the captain at Lucknow Super Giants, where Langer is the head coach] 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."

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