Cricket

The search for India's next head coach has intensified, with the BCCI receiving applications for the position that will be vacated by Rahul Dravid on June 30, 2024. While names like Gautam Gambhir have been circulating, reliable sources have confirmed that Mahela Jayawardene, the former Sri Lankan captain, has not applied nor been approached for the role.Jayawardene, who has guided Mumbai Indians to three IPL titles, is currently the franchise's global head of performance, overseeing coaching and scouting for MI's teams in various T20 leagues worldwide. He has also served as a consultant for the Sri Lankan men's team during their recent World Cup campaigns.Another potential candidate, Justin Langer, has ruled himself out of contention. The former Australia head coach, who led the team to a T20 World Cup title in 2021, cited the demanding nature of the role and the need for the right timing."It would be a great challenge, but the timing has got to be right," Langer said. "The pressure on winning for the Indian team is massive."The BCCI has set a deadline of May 27 for applications, and the new head coach is expected to be appointed for a three-year period from July 1, 2024, to December 31, 2027. The successful candidate will be tasked with guiding India through the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Justin Langer, the former head coach of the Australian cricket team, has expressed his thoughts on the demanding nature of the India head coach position. Langer, who recently coached the Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League (IPL), believes that the timing must be right for anyone considering the role.Langer acknowledged the immense pressure and workload associated with being the India head coach. He emphasized that the constant scrutiny and expectations can be overwhelming, especially given the volume of cricket played by the Indian team. Langer also noted that he had only recently stepped down from a similar role with Australia, and that he might not be mentally prepared to commit to the demanding schedule of the India head coach position.Despite his reservations, Langer praised the IPL as the best domestic competition in the world. He likened the pressure of the IPL to that of a World Cup, highlighting the intensity and competitiveness of the tournament. Langer also expressed his admiration for the Indian players, stating that they are constantly evolving and improving their game.Langer defended KL Rahul, the captain of the Lucknow Super Giants, despite criticism over his batting strike rate. He argued that Rahul's approach is different from other players, and that he has been successful in his own way. Langer believes that Rahul will continue to evolve and improve as a player.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is seeking a new head coach for the men's cricket team as Rahul Dravid's tenure concludes after the T20 World Cup 2024. Dravid has reportedly declined to re-apply for the position, citing a desire to spend more time with family.The BCCI requires a multi-format coach who can commit to approximately ten months with the team due to the busy schedule. Despite other countries adopting separate coaches for red-ball and white-ball cricket, the BCCI prefers a single coach for both formats.Former Indian players have been approached for the role, but they must submit applications to be considered. VVS Laxman was initially speculated as Dravid's successor, but he has reportedly declined the offer and will continue with the India 'A' team.Justin Langer, Stephen Fleming, Gautam Gambhir, and Ashish Nehra are among the other candidates in contention. Langer has expressed interest, while Ponting has reportedly met with BCCI officials regarding the position.Gambhir and Nehra have also shown interest in the role. Gambhir has guided Kolkata Knight Riders to back-to-back playoff finishes, while Nehra led Gujarat Titans to the IPL title in their debut season.With Dravid and Laxman unavailable, Ponting emerges as the frontrunner. However, the extensive workload and his commitment to Washington Freedom in the Major League Cricket could pose challenges.The BCCI has also considered Stephen Fleming, who has been the longest-serving coach in the IPL with Chennai Super Kings. Dravid's contract expires after the T20 World Cup, and he has the option to re-apply.The BCCI has invited applications for the role with a deadline of May 27. The new head coach will be responsible for guiding the Indian team through a busy schedule, including a five-match T20I series in Zimbabwe starting July 15.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has witnessed an unprecedented surge in ultra-aggressive cricket, particularly during the powerplay. However, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) head coach Justin Langer believes it remains uncertain whether teams can replicate this approach in the upcoming T20 World Cup in the Americas.Despite the high-scoring nature of the IPL, with teams amassing 200 or more runs 37 times this season, LSG has managed to achieve this feat only once. Langer acknowledges that his team has struggled in the powerplay, which has been a key factor in their recent loss to Delhi Capitals (DC)."The Lucknow wicket has been a real contest between bat and ball, whereas a lot in this tournament has been very one-sided towards the bat," Langer said. "So that's certainly, we haven't capitalized in our powerplay like some of the other teams have."Langer praised the ultra-aggressive approach that has transformed the shortest format of the game. "It's been absolutely amazing watching some of these powerplays. It's almost transformed the game. And whether people can continue to do this and whether they can do it during the World Cup, time will tell. But it's certainly been ultra-aggressive cricket."Despite DC's impressive total of 209, LSG's Arshad Khan gave them a scare with an unbeaten 33-ball 58. Langer believes Khan has immense potential and could become a valuable all-rounder.DC's Tristan Stubbs also impressed with a 25-ball 57 and a wicket. Langer acknowledged Stubbs' talent and highlighted the importance of match-ups in modern cricket."There's so much data these days, so when you do your analysis leading into every game, what often happens traditionally is left-handers don't have as much impact on the game against off-spin when the ball's spinning away," Langer said. "You saw Bishy (Ravi Bishnoi) bowled beautifully when they're spinning away, whereas when the ball's spinning back into the left-hander or the off-spin is spinning back into the right-hander, it tends to be more in the arc to be hitting some of these sixes."DC assistant coach Pravin Amre praised the team's Indian bowlers for their contributions. "I think last four or five games, all Indian bowlers are doing a good job," Amre said. "I think that was very important for us, like the way Khaleel bowled, Mukesh bowled, Ishant bowled, I think that was very positive for us as a franchise."

The recent incident involving Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka and skipper KL Rahul has sparked widespread discussion. After LSG's 10-wicket loss to SunRisers Hyderabad, Goenka was seen having an animated conversation with Rahul and coach Justin Langer. The incident went viral on social media, with many criticizing Goenka's behavior.However, Langer has now shed light on the situation, revealing that the discussion was solely about the team's performance. "I was so surprised by the reaction," Langer said. "It was just about where our plan went wrong in the game, and it went wrong."Langer emphasized that both Goenka and Rahul are known for their calm demeanor, and the conversation was not as heated as it appeared. "When I saw there were some arms going about, I thought, 'Woah, I have never seen this before,'" Langer said. "But when I listened to the conversation, it was just about cricket talk."Despite the incident, Rahul remains the captain of LSG and led the team in their match against Delhi Capitals on Tuesday. Before the match, an image of Goenka hugging Rahul went viral, indicating that the situation has been resolved.The incident has raised questions about the role of owners in sports teams and the pressure they can put on players and coaches. However, Langer believes that the relationship between Goenka, Rahul, and himself is strong. "We are just laughing about it," Langer said. "It has been such an awesome relationship."

Lucknow Super Giants Owner's Outburst Sparks Debate on Team OwnershipLucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka's heated exchange with skipper KL Rahul and head coach Justin Langer following their humiliating defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) has ignited a discussion about the appropriate role of team owners in professional sports.LSG's dismal performance, where openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head chased down a 166-run target in a mere 9.4 overs, prompted Goenka's outburst. The incident has drawn criticism from former India batter Virender Sehwag, who believes that team owners should refrain from expressing anger towards players or staff."The owner's role should be to motivate players, not to question them or get angry," Sehwag said on Cricbuzz. "Coaches and captains run the team, so it's better for owners to stay out of it."Sehwag, who served as mentor for Punjab Kings from 2016 to 2018, emphasized that team owners are primarily concerned with profit and loss. However, he argued that in the case of IPL franchises, where profits are guaranteed, owners should focus on supporting the team rather than interfering."These owners are businessmen who only understand profit and loss," Sehwag said. "But in the IPL, there is no loss, so what's bothering them? They're earning a huge profit. Their job should be to motivate the players, not to create unnecessary pressure."Sehwag also pointed out that players have options in the IPL and can easily move to other franchises if they feel disrespected or undervalued. "If you lose a player, your chances of winning are zero," he said. "When I left Punjab, they were fifth. They never came fifth in any other seasons."Sehwag's comments have resonated with many fans and experts, who believe that team owners should respect the authority of coaches and players and avoid creating a hostile environment. The incident has highlighted the importance of maintaining a healthy balance between ownership involvement and team autonomy in professional sports.

Justin Langer's Competitive Spirit Shines in Push-Up Challenge with Lucknow Super Giants PacerAt 53 years old, Lucknow Super Giants head coach Justin Langer proved that age is just a number when he engaged in a push-up challenge with his 24-year-old pacer, Naveen-ul-Haq. During a training session ahead of their clash against Kolkata Knight Riders, Langer showcased his unwavering competitive spirit and desire to win.In a video shared by the franchise on social media, Langer and Naveen were seen in an intense push-up battle. Despite being less than half of Langer's age, Naveen struggled to keep up with his head coach's relentless pace. Langer emerged as the clear winner, demonstrating his exceptional fitness and determination.Langer's competitive nature has been evident throughout his first season as head coach of LSG. Under his guidance, the team has secured a top-four position in the IPL points table with six wins and four losses. However, the likes of Sunrisers Hyderabad, Chennai Super Kings, and Delhi Capitals are hot on their heels as the season approaches its climax.In the past two editions of the IPL, LSG has reached the play-offs but failed to advance to the finals. Langer's experience and leadership will be crucial as the team aims to break this trend and make a deep run in the tournament.

Ayush Badoni, the young Lucknow Super Giants batter, has expressed gratitude towards skipper KL Rahul and coach Justin Langer for their unwavering support during his initial struggles in the ongoing IPL season. Badoni's impressive performance against the Delhi Capitals, despite the team's loss, was a testament to the faith placed in him.Badoni's unbeaten 55 off 35 balls played a crucial role in resurrecting LSG's innings, helping them post a competitive 167 for 7. However, the Delhi Capitals chased down the target with ease in 18.1 overs."The start of the season was not good, but I was doing well at the nets," Badoni said. "I am thankful to KL Rahul and Justin Langer for backing me and giving me a chance."Badoni's strategy was to take the game deep and then attack, aiming to score over 150 runs. He acknowledged that the team fell short by about 20 runs.The 24-year-old batter emphasized the positive impact of his strong bond with Rahul and Langer. "I spoke a lot to KL Rahul, and he backs me every time," Badoni said. "I also share a good bonding with Justin. I went to Australia last year, and there also, he made me learn a few things and improved my game."Badoni credited Delhi Capitals spinner Kuldeep Yadav for his match-winning performance. "Kuldeep was bowling well. He broke our momentum," he said.Meanwhile, DC assistant coach Pravin Amre praised Jake Fraser-McGurk's debut IPL knock, which helped the team chase down the target effortlessly. "It was a tremendous innings by Jack because he was batting very well at the nets," Amre said. "We have got that he has that X-factor, the ability to strike the sixes."Amre also acknowledged Prithvi Shaw's contribution in providing a solid start. "As an opener, he has got a role to play, winning the powerplay is also critical," Amre said.The assistant coach lauded the performance of spinners Kuldeep and Axar Patel, who dominated the crucial middle overs. "We are forgetting Kuldeep's contribution. He bowled a dream ball to dismiss Nicholas Pooran," Amre said. "Axar also bowled well in the middle overs, giving away just 25 runs off his 4 overs."

Mayank Yadav, the fast bowler for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), is expected to miss the team's next two matches due to a minor hip injury. Head coach Justin Langer confirmed the news on Thursday, stating that Mayank is unlikely to play against Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders.Mayank experienced discomfort in his hip during LSG's previous match against Gujarat Titans on Sunday. He bowled only one over before leaving the field. Subsequent medical examinations revealed a small swelling in his hip."He felt a little bit of tightness at the top of his hip leading into the last game," Langer explained. "He bowled that first over and started feeling something in his hip. We had an MRI scan, and there is a very, very small swelling in there."Despite the injury, Langer expressed optimism that Mayank will recover quickly. "We are very hopeful he'll start building himself up and be back bowling again soon," he said.LSG's short turnaround between matches and travel schedule make it challenging for Mayank to recover in time for the upcoming games. "It's unlikely that he plays these two games," Langer admitted. "But he's certainly working towards playing whenever he possibly can."The team is targeting Mayank's return for their match against Chennai Super Kings on April 19. "We want him to play every game if possible," Langer emphasized. "He's working very hard every day to be ready for whatever our next game is."In Mayank's absence, LSG will have to rely on other bowlers to fill the void. The team has a number of options, including Avesh Khan, Dushmantha Chameera, and Mohsin Khan.