'IPL is a bit like a World Cup': LSG head coach Justin Langer
‘IPL is a bit like a World Cup’: LSG head coach Justin Langer
NEW DELHI: Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) head coach Justin Langer expressed his belief that the Indian Premier League (IPL) carries a World Cup-like intensity due to the competitiveness of the tournament.
This sentiment arose following LSG’s hard-fought four-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.
LSG secured their sixth win of the season, propelled by Marcus Stoinis’s explosive 62-run innings, which played a pivotal role in their success on home turf.
With this crucial victory, LSG climbed to the third spot in the IPL standings, accumulating 12 points. Langer’s acknowledgment of the IPL’s high stakes and fierce competition reflects the significance of each match as teams vie for playoff berths in the tournament.
While talking about the ongoing season, Langer emphasized the importance of each point and said after the game, “I have been blown away by how brilliant this IPL tournament is. It’s a bit like a World Cup. There’s no easy games, every point is crucial. We see how tight it is on the table. For us to take those points tonight, really valuable. Most importantly, after our disappointing last loss, I loved how we fought back and that’s a sign of a really good team.”
Despite facing an early setback and enduring a middle-order collapse during their chase of 145, LSG found stability and resilience in the form of their experienced Australian star.
Recently promoted to the crucial no. 3 position, he once again embraced his role with determination, steering the hosts away from the jaws of defeat.
“He’s been a real match-winner. Took a good catch early as well. He’s just showing us that presence at the top of the order which we probably demanded after the first 4 or 5 games. He’s showing that real presence, he’s playing well, he’s being a match-winner. In T20 cricket, in IPL cricket, in big tournaments, match-winners are crucial if you are going to keep progressing. It’s such a tight tournament,” Langer added.
During their pursuit of 145, Lucknow encountered a pivotal moment after the dismissal of Arshin Kulkarni, facing the challenge of Mumbai Indians’ star speedster Jasprit Bumrah in the powerplay. However, skipper KL Rahul and Marcus Stoinis stepped up to the occasion, forming a crucial 58-run partnership to navigate through the early setback.
Rahul displayed solidity with his 28-run contribution before falling victim to Hardik Pandya’s bowling. Stoinis, on the other hand, continued to anchor the innings with a determined 62-run knock, guiding the team’s charge from one end until Mohammad Nabi utilized his experience to dismiss the Australian batsman.
Despite losing Ashton Turner and Ayush Badoni in quick succession, Lucknow Super Giants found stability with Nicholas Pooran staying till the end to seal the victory for the hosts.
This significant win marked LSG’s sixth victory of the season, propelling them to the third spot in the standings with 12 points from 10 matches. Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians remained in the ninth position with six points from 12 matches.
(With ANI inputs)
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