If Rahul performs well in IPL, reward will be T20 World Cup slot: LSG head coach Langer

Apart from Naveen, the other overseas fast bowler is Shamar Joseph, the West Indies sensation, who has won hearts with his performances in the recent two Tests in Australia.

However, with very little T20 experience even in the Caribbean Premier League, will he come in handy in IPL? Langer sounded bullish.

“He didn’t have experience even before going into two Test matches,” Langer sounded dismissive about the experience bit.

“I was commentating and I saw him take seven wickets in 37 degrees, 80 per cent humidity and a broken toe. He is an incredible athlete. Smile, spirit, athleticism and skill, he has got all those ingredients that you need to succeed. Another talented guy is Mayank.”

Langer was also pretty confident about the spin bowling arsenal of his team, especially Bishnoi and the 41-year-old veteran leg-break bowler Amit Mishra.

Tamil Nadu’s left-arm spinner M Siddharth has also caught coach’s attention.

“He (Bishnoi) is an outstanding bowler. I love his energy. I watched his training. There is no better pure leg-spinner than Mishi (Mishra’s nickname). I saw young M Siddarth, who bowled a maiden over first-up in a training game. There is Krishnappa Gowtham.”

Gautam Gambhir was the mentor of LSG before he joined KKR ahead of this season.

Asked whether the fans can expect a face-off with the feisty former India player, Langer said there is only admiration for the work he did with the franchise.

“There is no face-off. I was disappointed when he left for KKR but he is a real hero in KKR. We have been good friends,” said Langer, who had once conducted personalised coaching sessions for Gambhir in Perth, when he needed to sort out his game against the short ball.

“But then when we play DC, my good friend Ricky Ponting is the coach, in CSK, Stephen Fleming and Mike Hussey are friends.”