• Source:JND
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Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka has put to rest all speculation by confirming that Justin Langer, the former Australian cricket team coach, will indeed continue to serve as the head coach of LSG in the next edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Following a disappointing IPL 2024 campaign for Lucknow Super Giants, speculation had been rife about Langer's future as head coach, but Goenka's recent statement has now put those doubts to rest, confirming that Langer will retain his position at the franchise for the next season.

"One doesn't know which way what goes. Certainly the coach (Justin Langer) continues, Lance Kluesener (assistant coach), Jonty Rhodes (fielding coach) also continue. We are delighted for Morne Morkel and Gautam Gambhir, very pleased they have joined the national team," Goenka said as quoted by India Today.

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Goenka has addressed recent speculation about the team's retention plans, including the future of captain KL Rahul, by announcing that the core coaching staff, including key figures, will remain unchanged for the next IPL season. This clarification came during the introduction of Zaheer Khan as the team's new mentor.

Meanwhile, Lucknow Super Giants owner remained tight-lipped about the team's retention strategy and KL Rahul's future, but hinted at significant changes ahead of IPL 2025, describing the upcoming mega auction as an opportunity for the team to "reset" in certain areas.

Alongside new mentor Zaheer Khan, Goenka emphasized that LSG's retention decisions will prioritize long-term goals over short-term gains.

"All decisions are medium-term and need to be thought of carefully. When you have a mega auction you are bound to have a reset. But you try and maintain as much of the core as possible. The coach Justin Langer continues, [support staff] Lance Klusener and Jonty Rhodes will also be there. So it is a question of improving and going further from where you are now," he said.

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Goenka described KL Rahul, the team's captain since its inception in 2022, as "family" after the two met in Kolkata, but chose not to disclose the specifics of their discussion.

"I have been meeting KL on and off regularly over the last three years. Frankly, I am surprised this meeting is getting a lot of attention [in the media]. He is integral [to LSG]. He has been here since the inception. For me personally and for [my son] Shashwat [Goenka, who is also involved in running LSG], he is like family," Goenka said.