'Never been..': LSG owner on rumors of rift with Pant
What's the story
Sanjiv Goenka, the owner of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), has rejected rumors of a rift with team captain Rishabh Pant. The speculation stemmed from Goenka's on-field exchanges with players during Indian Premier League matches and his relationship with captain KL Rahul. However, in an interview on NDTV's 'Walk The Talk,' Goenka dismissed these claims as baseless fabrications.
Misinterpretation
Goenka clarifies scolding rumors
Goenka clarified that his interactions with players are often misinterpreted. He said, "You know, with Rishabh, there has never been a scolding situation, ever." He added that social media tends to blow things out of proportion and create sensational headlines. "This is social media. Sanjiv Goenka did his hand like this, which gets them views. Right? So to that end, they decided, 'let's make Sanjiv Goenka a punching bag'," he added.
Non-interference
Addressing interference allegations, Goenka said this
Goenka also addressed allegations of interfering in cricketing matters, saying he has a team of experts for that. He said, "For a person who's never really played cricket, it would be foolish to tell my cricketers how to play." The LSG owner stressed his role is more about support than coaching the team.
Response
'My Sanjiv-Pant interaction is breaking news'
Responding to the social media controversies, Goenka said his recent interaction with Pant was misinterpreted like previous incidents. He said, "Look, with a player like Rishabh, there is never a daat (scolding) situation. But on social media, even if Sanjiv Goenka moves his hands a certain way, it becomes breaking news."
Form
Pant's tough season in IPL 2026
Meanwhile, LSG are looking for solutions to turn their fortunes around, having managed two wins across five games. They have been let down by their skipper Pant. The southpaw, who has been operating in the top three this season, has scored 104 runs so far at 26 (SR: 122.35). 68* of these runs came in a solitary match, as he was dismissed under 20 in each of his other four outings.