Justin Langer, former head coach of the Australian cricket team, has decided not to apply for the role of head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team. This decision follows a conversation with KL Rahul, skipper of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), who warned Langer about the immense pressure and politics involved in the position.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is seeking a new head coach as Rahul Dravid’s tenure is set to conclude after the T20 World Cup 2024. Reports indicate that Dravid is hesitant to continue in the role. Langer, currently coaching LSG in the Indian Premier League, left his position with Australia in 2022 amidst internal team unrest.

In an interview on BBC’s Stumped podcast, Langer expressed his thoughts: “It would be an amazing job, [but] I have [put myself out of contention]. 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!” He acknowledged the advice from KL Rahul, who suggested the challenges of coaching in India are exponentially greater than those in the IPL.

Langer further clarified his stance, saying, “It would be an awesome job, but not for me at the moment.” This decision follows similar refusals from other high-profile candidates, including Ricky Ponting, who also opted out of the race for the Indian coaching position.

Ponting, who has been the head coach of the Delhi franchise in the IPL since 2018 and briefly served as Australia’s T20 coach, mentioned in an interview with the International Cricket Council: “I’d love to be a senior coach of a national team, but with the other things that I have in my life and wanting to have a bit of time at home… Everyone knows if you take a job working with the Indian team you can’t be involved in an IPL team, so it would take that out of it as well.”

The search for Dravid’s successor continues, with several IPL coaches being considered for one of the most demanding roles in cricket. Former India opener Gautam Gambhir, currently mentoring the Kolkata Knight Riders, is a strong contender, having led KKR to the IPL 2024 final. Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming has also been linked to the position.

Despite the allure of coaching the Indian team, the high-pressure environment and political intricacies are significant deterrents for many potential candidates. The BCCI faces a challenging task in finding a coach capable of handling the immense expectations and responsibilities that come with the job.

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