‘Biggest job in cricket but exhausting’ – Justin Langer on Team India’s head coach role

A day after the Indian Cricket Board approached former two-time World Cup winner Gautam Gambhir for the soon-to-be-vacant TeamIndia’shead coach position, ex-Australia coach Justin Langer shared his thoughts on what he called the‘biggest job in cricket’.Following Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) 18-run win over Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 2024 the other night, Langer – thefranchise’shead coach, opened up on being a head coach of a national team.

Following the conclusion of the 2024Men’sT20 World Cup in the Americas, current Coach RahulDravid’stenure will expire, with the new coach taking over the job from July 1, 2024, for three and a half years.

Since Dravid hasrejected the chance of reapplying for the same position, citing personal reasons, the BCCI took to social media to invite applicants forIndia’shead coach role, with its deadline being May 27 – one day after the IPL 2024 final.

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Explaining the challenges that come with this particular job, Langer said because of the volume of cricket and expectations of winning with this Indian Team, it would be a massive challenge for anyone applying for it. He added that the pleasure of winning an ICC trophy with this bunch of cricketers would be fun.

"It would almost be the biggest job in cricket - being the head coach of the Indian cricket team,"Langer said."One, because of the huge volume of cricket and the huge expectation. It would be a great challenge.It would be great fun,andit would bea wonderful opportunity to win ICC titles,”he added.

‘It’sencompassing,exhausting’

Having coached the Aussie team earlier, guiding them to their maiden ICC T20 WC title in 2021, Langer said he knows what one goes through, adding Dravid and Ravi Shastri (former India coach) could tell everyone the same thing.

"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 continued.

Meanwhile, Langer coached LSG this season, guiding them to a sixth-place finish with seven wins and as many losses in 14 contested matches.

(With inputs from agencies)