Whenever Lucknow Super Giants fail to deliver an ideal result in the IPL, Sanjiv Goenka’s name quickly trends online. The franchise chief, widely viewed as a passionate presence around the squad, is often seen speaking animatedly with his players during match days. A recent on-field exchange involving captain Rishabh Pant reignited comparisons with another season moment from 2024, when fans discussed a similar verbal interaction between Goenka and then-captain KL Rahul. Edited clips circulating on social media turned the latest conversation into a fresh talking point, prompting Goenka to address the controversy directly in an interview.
The “scolding” narrative
In his comments, Goenka pushed back on the idea that his interaction with Pant amounted to any kind of “scolding.” He argued that with a player like Rishabh, the situation was never about reprimanding him, despite how the exchange may look when clipped and shared. “Look, with a player like Rishabh, there is never a ‘daat’ situation,” Goenka said. “But on social media, even if Sanjiv Goenka moves his hands a certain way, it becomes breaking news. I’ve become a very convenient punching bag. If you run a headline saying ‘Sanjiv Goenka scolds his player,’ you get instant views.”
Goenka also stressed that the public’s interpretation is frequently shaped by isolated moments taken out of context. In his view, one incident should not be treated as a permanent reflection of a person’s character or intent. “People need to understand that one incident doesn’t define a person. We make mistakes, we learn, and we ensure we don’t repeat them. The dressing room is happy, and the environment is positive; these outside narratives aren’t actual issues,” he added.
The owner further admitted that his natural manner of communicating—particularly his use of hand gestures—has often been misunderstood. He said the reaction to those gestures has reached a point where he is actively adjusting how he comes across during conversations. “It’s funny how a simple gesture or hand movement outside the field becomes a national headline,” he remarked. “I am naturally someone who speaks with a lot of hand movements, but seeing how things get misinterpreted, I am now literally learning to keep my hands behind my back while talking!”
Claims of “interference” in cricket matters
Goenka also addressed the recurring accusations that, as the head of a major sports franchise, he interferes with the technical side of cricket. He dismissed those allegations as unrealistic, pointing out that he is not a former professional cricketer and therefore would have little basis to dictate how players should perform. “How do I respond to critics who say I interfere? Honestly, for someone who has never played professional cricket, it would be foolish of me to tell my players how to play. I have a massive team of experts who handle the technical side of the game,” he said.
While Goenka made it clear he is personally invested in the team’s success, he drew a strict boundary between support and coaching. “Yes, I am passionate about the team. I want them to succeed and do well, but I don’t understand the nuances of cricket the way an expert does. It would be completely out of place for me to give ‘cricketing lessons’ to professional athletes. My role is to support the team, not to coach them,” he asserted.
