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‘This Man Has Haunted Me’: Justin Langer Shares Interesting Anecdote On Rishabh Pant

Bhargav Dixit

Justin Langer will coach Rishabh Pant at LSG. [Source: @ImArpit_18 & @LucknowIPL/X]Justin Langer will coach Rishabh Pant at LSG. [Source: @ImArpit_18 & @LucknowIPL/X]

India wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant’s childlike banter during Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2018-2019 had literally seen him babysitting former Australia captain Tim Paine’s children during an off-the-field event. On the field, with his sensational batting, Pant used to torment then-Australia head coach Justin Langer.

The former Australian opener revealed a shocking revelation during his commentary stint for Fox Sports on the first day of the second Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-2025 Test match at the Adelaide Oval.

It all happened right when Pant walked out to bat at No. 5 with his team losing opening batter KL Rahul (31) and former captain Virat Kohli (7) in successive overs. Langer, known for appreciating Indian cricketers wholeheartedly, didn’t leave any stone unturned while speaking highly about Pant.


"Last two series, this man [Rishabh Pant] has haunted me. But now I hope fortune is on his side. He's my favourite person, my mate," Langer was quoted as saying.

Why Did Justin Langer Praise Rishabh Pant?

Langer’s praise for Pant had come primarily because of the latter’s exceptional performances during India’s tours of Australia in 2018-19 and 2020-21.

Second-highest run-scorer behind veteran India batter Cheteshwar Pujara (792) from both the teams, Pant had scored 624 runs at an average and strike rate of 62.40 and 72.13 respectively on those two tours.

    Among the 42 batters who got to bat across the eight Tests, Pant’s average and strike rate were the best (minimum 25 runs). The pinnacle of Pant’s 12 innings across the two series was him scoring a memorable 89* (138) in a match-winning effort at the Gabba.

    Pant and Langer, however, will now be sharing the dressing room at Lucknow Super Giants after the former was bought by the franchise for a record-breaking sum of INR 27 crore during Indian Premier League 2025 mega auction in Jeddah. Langer, who had taken charge as LSG's head coach last season, was present at the auction table to be part of history last month.