Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka has once again found himself in the spotlight for his intense on-field interactions with team captains. Following LSG’s eight-wicket loss to Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Ekana Stadium, Goenka was seen in a serious discussion with skipper Rishabh Pant. The moment immediately brought back memories of his similar post-match exchange with former captain KL Rahul.
LSG’s campaign in IPL 2025 has been far from ideal, with just one win in three matches despite boasting a formidable squad. A key concern has been Pant’s poor form and an inexperienced bowling attack struggling to deliver under pressure. The franchise invested INR 27 crore in Pant, making him the most expensive player in IPL history. However, the star wicketkeeper-batter has failed to justify his price tag, scoring only 17 runs in three innings.
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Meanwhile, PBKS continued their strong run, securing consecutive victories to maintain their second-place position in the points table. Their captain, Shreyas Iyer, another high-profile signing at INR 26.75 crore, has lived up to expectations with 149 runs in just two innings.
Scene created between Goenka & Pant. 🧐#PBKSvsLSG pic.twitter.com/oU9AS4kbN5
— Kunal Yadav (@Kunal_KLR) April 1, 2025
After the match, Goenka first greeted Iyer with a warm embrace and had a long chat, leading to social media banter suggesting he might be luring Iyer to LSG. However, the tone shifted when he met Pant. Cameras captured Goenka gesturing sternly while addressing the struggling captain, a moment that quickly went viral.
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This isn’t the first time Goenka has publicly scrutinized his captain. His past confrontations with KL Rahul reportedly affected Rahul’s departure from the franchise. With mounting pressure on Pant and LSG’s injury-hit bowling attack missing key pacers like Mayank Yadav, Akash Deep, and Shamar Joseph, the road ahead looks challenging. Pant now faces the uphill task of reviving both his form and LSG’s faltering campaign.
