New Delhi: Sanjeev Goenka is at it again. The Lucknow Super Giants owner has built an infamous reputation for publicly grilling and confronting the players and the captain on the field after defeats.
Two years after hogging the limelight for an intense, animated and heated discussion with then-LSG captain KL Rahul, Goenka produced a moment of Deja Vu for the IPL fans with a similar exchange with current skipper Rishabh Pant.
After LSG’s home loss to Delhi Capitals on Wednesday, Goenka was caught on camera having an intense discussion with Lucknow skipper Pant and head coach Justin Langer.
The exchange happened on the sidelines of the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow following the Super Giants’ six-wicket defeat to the Capitals.
LSG outdone by poor batting
Batting first after losing the toss, LSG endured a dismal outing with the bat after a no-show from the top-order, including makeshift opener Pant. Bowled out for a below-par 141, LSG fought back with the new-ball bowlers, who picked up four early wickets, but a sensational unbeaten 119-run stand between Sameer Rizvi (70*) and Tristan Stubbs (39*) helped Delhi cross the line with 2.5 overs to spare.
After the match, the exchange between Goenka and Pant was broadcast, without any audio. The discussion appeared a bit intense, and it didn’t take long for the clips and images of the discussion to go viral online.
New Delhi: Sanjeev Goenka is at it again. The Lucknow Super Giants owner has built an infamous reputation for publicly grilling and confronting the players and the captain on the field after defeats.
Two years after hogging the limelight for an intense, animated and heated discussion with then-LSG captain KL Rahul, Goenka produced a moment of Deja Vu for the IPL fans with a similar exchange with current skipper Rishabh Pant.
After LSG’s home loss to Delhi Capitals on Wednesday, Goenka was caught on camera having an intense discussion with Lucknow skipper Pant and head coach Justin Langer.
The exchange happened on the sidelines of the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow following the Super Giants’ six-wicket defeat to the Capitals.
Batting first after losing the toss, LSG endured a dismal outing with the bat after a no-show from the top-order, including makeshift opener Pant. Bowled out for a below-par 141, LSG fought back with the new-ball bowlers, who picked up four early wickets, but a sensational unbeaten 119-run stand between Sameer Rizvi (70*) and Tristan Stubbs (39*) helped Delhi cross the line with 2.5 overs to spare.
After the match, the exchange between Goenka and Pant was broadcast, without any audio. The discussion appeared a bit intense, and it didn’t take long for the clips and images of the discussion to go viral online.
Sanjiv Goenka and Rishabh pant 😭 pic.twitter.com/0RzMSkp0vE
— Faiyaz (@FaiyazWhat) April 1, 2026
Goenka’s Rishabh Pant confrontation: Deja Vu for LSG after IPL loss
The exchange reminded fans of a similar incident that happened in IPL 2024 when a seemingly upset Goenka admonished then-skipper Rahul, leaving him embarrassed and humiliated.
The incident was viewed as a fallout between Rahul and Goenka, and not many were surprised when the Indian star left the franchise before the start of the next season and ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, aiming for a “fresh start” and a lighter team atmosphere.
“Wanted to go and play where I could find some freedom”, said Rahul after leaving the Super Giants. His remarks clearly indicate that the team culture in the LSG dressing room is not ideal and borderline toxic, stemming from the ownership overload.
Is LSG’s ownership culture impacting player freedom & performance
Now the incident involving Pant, who was bought for Rs 27 crore in the IPL 2025 auction, is another solid proof of the questionable team culture, which doesn’t allow players to play with freedom and creates an atmosphere of fear and worry.
Like other franchises, the LSG ownership should leave cricket to the cricketers and avoid getting too hands-on. If the same trend continues, the day is not far when the LSG sporting project turns into a vanity project.
Moreover, this questionable behaviour towards India’s superstars, who have won several matches for the country, is hurting the ethos and dignity of the sport.
The bottom line is India’s heroes don’t deserve this kind of treatment.