A familiar scene is unfolding yet again at the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) camp—team owner Sanjiv Goenka engaging in a prolonged post-match discussion with his captain, particularly after losses. Last season, it was KL Rahul who found himself in the middle of these animated chats, and now, Rishabh Pant, LSG’s high-profile signing, is experiencing the same.
Rahul’s conversation with Goenka had sparked widespread debate, especially after LSG endured a disappointing campaign, finishing seventh and failing to make the playoffs for the first time since their debut in 2022. Eventually, the franchise parted ways with him. Now, a similar pattern is emerging with Pant, as visuals of his intense discussion with Goenka following LSG’s heavy defeat to Punjab Kings in their first home game of IPL 2025 have gone viral on social media.
Amid growing chatter around Goenka’s interactions with his captains, former cricketer and 1983 World Cup winner Madan Lal has weighed in, urging the LSG owner to avoid pressuring players. He emphasized the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket and stressed the importance of allowing players to perform without added stress. Expressing his thoughts on X (formerly Twitter), Lal wrote, “I don’t know the discussion between Rishabh and Mr Sanjiv Goenka. All this can happen inside. Let boys enjoy the game, let them play freely. 20/20 cricket very unpredictable.”
With LSG looking to bounce back in the tournament, all eyes will be on how Pant and the team respond to the mounting scrutiny, both on and off the field.
