How Justin Langer could be set for an awkward reunion with Pat Cummins nearly two years on from his bitter exit as Aussie coach

Pat Cummins and Justin Langer could be set for an Indian Premier League showdown with the coach looking for gun fast bowlers to bolster his Lucknow Super Giants.

The IPL auction will be held on Tuesday night, Australian time, with a host of players set to go under the hammer.

They include Australian fast bowling trio Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazelwood, with Langer and Lucknow set to target at least one of them.

Only a salary-cap squeeze will stop the Super Giants from getting one of the Aussies when the paddles are waved from 1pm Indian Standard Time on Tuesday (6.30pm AEDT).  

'I would not be surprised if we're going hard at a Starc and a Cummins,' Super Giants and Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis said.

'I hope we pick up a few of the Aussie boys, one for a bit of company and two because obviously you want the best players available.'

Cummins would be an interesting prospect for Langer's Super Giants, given his role in having him deposed as Australian coach just two years ago.

Despite achieving success with victories in the T20 World Cup and the Ashes, Cricket Australia responded to growing dissatisfaction from the playing group by offering Langer only a six-month contract extension after the conclusion of his initial four-year deal. 

This perceived slight led to Langer's resignation, sparking an acrimonious dispute between the current generation of Australian players and their predecessors, who stood in support of Langer. 

Cummins challenged the former opening batter over how he coached the team, after which Langer was accused of branding the current skipper a 'coward'.  

But rather than view that as a barrier, Stoinis said it was an opportunity to potentially mend some bridges between Langer and Aussie Test players.

'I think as much as things weren't ideal at the end of JL's coaching career with Australia, I think this is a great opportunity to turn over a new leaf.' he said.

Australian fast bowlers like Cummins and former Test bowler Jhye Richardson have received significant bids in the IPL auctions, with Cummins having one of the highest bids at $3.16million in 2020. 

Cummins, who skipped this year's IPL due to a busy schedule, is planning to return to the league next year, considering it as ideal preparation for the 2024 T20 World Cup, which is expected to start shortly after the IPL final.

'I feel like I haven't played a heap of T20 cricket and in some ways I feel like I haven't played my best T20 cricket for a little while,' he said.

'I'm really excited, I'm probably going to go into the IPL auction for next year to try to get some games before that World Cup and push a case to not only make the side but get back to how I feel like I can bowl in T20 cricket.'