In an interview with PTI, Lucknow Super Giants head coach Justin Langer laid out his message for players eyeing spots in India’s T20 World Cup squad as they prepare for the IPL 2024 season. Langer emphasized the significance of focusing on performing well for their IPL teams to enhance their chances of making it to the WT20 squad.
“I told them [Rahul and Bishnoi] that the more they concentrate on playing well for LSG, their chances of getting picked for the World Cup will increase,” Justin Langer stated. ‘
Both Rahul and Bishnoi are strong contenders for national selection, and their performances in the IPL will be crucial in determining their fate. While some might see LSG’s inexperienced pace attack as a weakness, Langer remains confident in his young guns.
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“Yes, we lack experience in the pace department,” he acknowledged, “but there’s immense talent there. All our pacers look fit, healthy, and hungry.” Justin Langer emphasizes the importance of managing player workload throughout the season for optimal performance. “We need to manage them well, not just at the start, but throughout the tournament. Among the pacers, Naveen-ul-Haq has a lot of T20 experience,” he explained.
He also expressed his faith in West Indies pacer Shamarh Joseph, who impressed with a seven-wicket haul on debut despite battling a broken toe. “I saw him bowl under extreme conditions,” Langer recalled, “He’s an incredible athlete with a smile, spirit, and all the ingredients for success.”
The spin attack, led by the talented Ravi Bishnoi, boasts a healthy mix of experience with Amit Mishra and youngsters like M Siddarth and K Gowtham.
“Bishnoi is an outstanding bowler,” Justin Langer said, “and Mishra is simply the best pure leg-spinner. I was also impressed by young Siddarth, who bowled a maiden in his first training game.”Langer downplayed any potential rivalry with former KKR coach Gautam Gambhir. “There’s no face-off,” he clarified. “We’re good friends. While I was disappointed when he left for KKR, he’s a true hero there.”
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Taking on the role after his time as Australian head coach, Langer is ready to give his all. “I’ve slept well the past two years,” he joked, “but fitting so much talent into just eleven slots might give me some sleepless nights!”
With the season opener against Rajasthan Royals just around the corner, Langer’s focus is clear: building a strong LSG unit that can go all the way. While individual World Cup aspirations are important, team success seems to be the driving force for the Lucknow Super Giants.
