Langer Highlights IPL Performances’ Significance for T20 World Cup Selection
The forthcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 is set to place significant emphasis on the performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The IPL will be instrumental in finalizing the squads for countries participating in the tournament, which will be held in the USA and West Indies.
Justin Langer, the coach of the Lucknow Super Giants, emphasized the importance of IPL performances for T20 World Cup selection during a virtual press conference. Langer, who is returning to coaching after a two-year break from his role as Head Coach of the Australian Men’s team, set high expectations for his squad.
“Team success will bring individual rewards,” Langer stated. He urged all players, including Ravi Bishnoi (Bishi) and KL Rahul, to focus on performing well for Lucknow to increase their chances of T20 World Cup selection.
The upcoming IPL season also marks the return of Rahul, a crucial player in India’s T20 World Cup strategy.
KL Rahul, India’s keeper-batter, is capitalizing on a near-missed opportunity at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. Despite being sidelined due to a quadriceps tendon injury since the first match of the recently concluded Test series against England, Rahul is now fit to lead the Lucknow Super Giants.
Langer shared an update on Rahul’s return, expressing the team’s anticipation to see him back in action. He also remained tight-lipped about Rahul’s position in the playing XI.
KL Rahul, who has played most of his T20 career as an opener, has found success in the middle order in the white-ball format. He scored 452 in 11 matches at an average of 75.33 at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
Langer, who has been sleeping well since leaving the Australian cricket team two years ago, joked about the difficulty of fitting so much talent into 11 positions. He concluded by saying, “If the team does well, then everyone gets rewarded. From KL’s perspective, if he captains the Lucknow Super Giants to an IPL victory, it means he would’ve played well, captained well, and kept wicket well.”