Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka has pushed back firmly against reports suggesting he has had run-ins with captain Rishabh Pant, and also against claims that he is an overly meddlesome presence when it comes to cricket-related decisions. The discussion has resurfaced after years of chatter around the franchise’s internal dynamics, particularly following the shift in leadership from KL Rahul to Pant.
Rahul led Lucknow Super Giants during the team’s inaugural IPL campaign in 2022, and his relationship with Goenka was widely reported to be less than smooth, especially toward the end of Rahul’s time with the side. The situation intensified in 2024, when multiple reports claimed the owner was unhappy with how the team was performing on the field. After Rahul stepped away following the 2024 season, Pant was appointed captain ahead of the 2025 campaign, but the franchise’s overall story—both in results and in the noise surrounding it—did not dramatically change.
As the current season unfolds, fresh versions of the same storyline have again started doing the rounds, this time with Pant at the centre of the speculation. Goenka, however, said that concerns about issues with the wicketkeeper-batter have been exaggerated and, in his view, largely manufactured. Speaking on NDTV’s “Walk The Talk” with Rahul Kanwal, Goenka appeared amused by how quickly narratives evolve around the team, dismissing the idea that he and Pant were ever misaligned or that he had a personal problem with the captain.
“You know, with Rishab, there has never been a scolding situation, ever,” Goenka said. He added that social media is often the catalyst for such portrayals, suggesting that exaggerated content is created to keep people engaged. In his words, the conversation soon becomes about turning Sanjiv Goenka into a “punching bag.”
While rejecting the underlying allegations, Goenka also admitted that the sheer volume of IPL coverage has started to make him more self-aware. He acknowledged that he has begun to adjust his behaviour to avoid being misunderstood, especially since his natural style includes expressive gestures while speaking. “Yeah, accepting that [that he has been under scrutiny too much also because of his emotional nature]. I’m now learning that,” he said, before explaining that angles taken out of context can quickly be turned into misleading versions of events. He pointed to morphed images and AI-generated content as part of the problem, while stressing that he can only remain himself.
Goenka further insisted that there is no basis to the idea of him interfering with cricketing matters. He argued that since he has never been a player, it would be unrealistic for him to instruct his cricketers on how to play. Instead, he said, the franchise has a structured group of specialists responsible for cricket-related issues, meaning those calls are handled by people best placed to do so.
On the field, Lucknow’s results have not matched the expectations set for the squad in recent seasons. The franchise reached the playoffs in its first two campaigns, but in both 2024 and 2025 they ended up seventh after performances that fell short of the mark. In the ongoing edition, they are again placed seventh after five matches, having won two and lost three. Their next assignment is against Punjab Kings, with the match scheduled to be played at home on Sunday evening.
