Former Australian opener Justin Langer eyes the India head coach role as BCCI invites applications
Former opener of the Australian cricket team Justin Langer shows his interest in the head coach position of the Indian cricket team. The role will be vacant after the T20 World Cup later this year, as the tenure of current head coach Rahul Dravid is coming to an end.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India recently invited applications for the position. While expressing his curiosity, Langer acknowledged the immense respect that he holds for the international coaches. He also highlighted the abundance of talent in the cricketing nation, saying coaching the Indian cricket team would be an extraordinary rule.
Previously, the secretary of BCCI, Jay Shah, clarified that Rahul Dravid, like any other candidate, would need to formally apply and go through the selection procedure if he wanted to continue; however, Dravid reportedly is not eager for an extension after his initial contract expired last year.
This is going to open the door for a possible foreign coach position, which was last held by Duncan Fletcher in 2014. Since then, India has gone for home-grown legends like Anil Kumble, Ravi Shastri, and Rahul Dravid.
With the possibility of a foreign coach returning, Langer emerged as a strong contender, and his impressive playing career with 105 test matches and more than 7600 runs speaks volumes. Furthermore, his successful tenure as coach of Team Australia for nearly 4 years is undeniable. He also played an important role in reviving Australian cricket after the Sandpaper Gate scandal, which led them to their first ever T20 World Cup title in 2021.
The current experience of Langer with the LucknowSupergiants in the Indian Premier League adds another dimension. Though LSG is still in playoff contention, their approach has drawn questions.
Whether Langer throws his hat in the ring and how the BCCI weighs his experience against other candidates is going to be interesting to watch.