As BCCI opens accepting candidates application for India’s Head Couch on Rahul Dravid’s position, Langer voiced his “curiosity.”
Langer is the head coach of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2024 and a former opener for Australia.
The BCCI invited applications for the same on Monday night.as Rahul Dravid’s Tenure comes to an end ahead T20 World Cup 2024.
‘Well, I am curious,’ Langer told TOI when asked whether he would apply for the post.
“I’ve never ever thought about it. I have deep respect for any international coach because I understand the pressure, but coaching the Indian team would be an extraordinary role. From what I’ve seen with the amount of talent I’ve seen in this country, it would be fascinating,” he added.
Jay Shah, the secretary of the BCCI, had previously stated that Dravid would need to apply and go through the selection process like any other candidate if he wanted to stay on as the Indian team’s head coach. But that doesn’t seem likely. When Dravid’s contract expired following the ODI World Cup last year, he was already in no mood to continue. Given that the T20 World Cup was only seven or eight months away, he and his entire support team were granted an extension.
Shah also hinted at the possibilty of roping in a foreign coach. The last foreign coach to grace Indian cricket was Duncan Fletcher. Since he stepped down in 2014, India have had three full-time head coaches (all former India cricketers and big names) – Anil Kumble, Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid.
Langer comes with a legacy of 105 Tests, scoring 7696 runs at an average of 45. Moreover, he has successfully coached the Australian team for close to four years and was the protagonist in the revival of Australian cricket after the Sandpapergate in 2018. Under his tenure, Australia also won their maiden T20 World Cup title in 2021.
Langer also has the experience of coaching LSG, an IPL franchise. In his maiden stint as the head coach of an IPL franchise, had a mixed bag. LSG are still in the race of to qualify for the playoffs but questions have been asked about the team’s approach.
“When you’re a player, you have control. You take absolute responsibility for your performance. The only thing that’s out of your control is selection, or what the media writes or what people think of you. You focus only on watching the ball. If you make runs, the only currency of value is runs. If you make runs, you get selected. If you get selected, you get a contract,” Langer said about his debut season as LSG’s head coach.