Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) head coach Justin langer has not ruled out throwing his hat in the ring to be Rahul Dravid’s successor. Dravid’s contract as the head coach of the men’s senior national team expires after the T20 World Cup and BCCI has invited applications from prospective candidates for the position.

Langer said he was “curious” about the head coach position, adding that it would be an extraordinary role, in an interview with Times of India. 

“Well, I am curious. 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,” Langer was quoted as saying by the publication. 

“I went straight from playing to coaching – as an assistant coach, which is the best coach job in the world. You work about two hours a day, everyone’s your best friend, and you’ve got no accountability. Then you become head coach, oh man, then you work about 16 hours a day. No one likes you. And you’ve got 100% accountability!” he added.

Prior to being LSG coach, Langer served as Australia’s men’s team head coach for nearly four years. He took the job in the aftermath of the Sandpaper Gate with the Australian team in turmoil.

Although Australia lost the home Test series to India twice in his tenure, Langer managed to correct the ship and guided the team to 2021 T20 World Cup win whilst retaining the Ashes on two separate occasions viz. 2019 and 2021. 

BCCI on Monday (May 13) invited applications for the head coach job. The CV’s must be submitted by “6 pm IST on May 27, 2024,” the BCCI said in a statement. Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary, also cleared that there will be no split coaching duties. 

“We are looking for a long-term coach for three years,” Shah had said last week. “There is no precedent of different coaches for different formats in Indian cricket. Besides, we have a number of all-format players. Ultimately, it will be the Cricket Advisory Committee’s (CAC) call. I have to implement what they decide,” said Shah. 

Dravid would be eligible to re-apply for the post as his tenure wouldn’t be automatically extended.

“We cannot determine whether the new coach will be Indian or foreign. It will be up to the CAC, and we are a global body,” Shah added.

(With inputs from agencies)