The potential rift between LSG captain KL Rahul and LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka has been the talk of the town. The once seemingly harmonious relationship between star player KL Rahul and owner Sanjiv Goenka has taken a sharp turn, leaving fans and pundits wondering about the future of both captain and franchise.
KL Rahul – The first draft pick at INR 17 cr
The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) franchise entered the IPL with a bang, securing the services of star batsman KL Rahul for a whopping INR 17 crore. This marked the beginning of a relationship, where Goenka signed the Indian superstar at a INR 2 crore premium to secure his services and handed him the captaincy straightaway in 2022.
A seemingly successful start at IPL 2022 & 2023
The first two seasons were quite impressive run for LSG. Rahul, leading the team from the front, displayed exceptional batting prowess. His leadership, coupled with a well-balanced squad, saw LSG establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with. The UP-based franchise qualified in both successive years. The camaraderie between Rahul and owner Sanjiv Goenka seemed positive, with both invested in the team’s success.
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Losing grip after Mayank Yadav’s injury (IPL 2024)
The KL Rahul-led side once again began their IPL journey on a high note, winning three of their first four games. However, the tides turned after an injury to teeraway pacer Mayank Yadav, Rahul’s key weapon, significantly impacted LSG’s bowling lineup. The team’s performance took a nosedive, leading to mounting pressure on Rahul’s captaincy. The side lost five of their next eight games.
The infamous verbal spat from Goenka to Rahul
Things reached a boiling point after a particularly bad defeat to SRH, who recorded a world record. The fiery duo of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head clobbered the LSG bowlers to a sorry state as the Orange Army orchestrated a 166-run chase in just a matter of 58 balls.
A video went viral, showing Goenka engaged in a heated conversation with Rahul, which many interpreted as a public dressing down. This incident sparked rumors of a rift between the captain and owner, with speculation rife about Rahul’s future with the franchise.
A divided opinion by former cricketers and pundits
The ‘ugly’ episode of heated discussion led to various former cricketers and pundits voice their opinions on the matter. Some said that the IPL franchise owners often find themselves in these kind of situations. On the other hand, various players claimed that these kind of arguments should always be done behind closed doors.
“To see an Indian player (KL Rahul) like that is quite disrespectful towards the player because we know we give everything. It was very emotional moment to see KL Rahul like that in the video. I feel that this has been happening for a long time with so many teams. And Indian players need to appoint a cricketing manager for every team. There should be a bridge between the owners, the cricketing management and the players.,” Ambati Rayudu said while speaking at a press conference organized by Star Sports
A dinner to diffuse tension?
In a surprising turn of events, Goenka invited Rahul for a private dinner in Delhi. This came ahead of a LSG’s crucial match vs DC. Photos emerged showing them sharing a warm embrace, suggesting a possible reconciliation. Coach Lance Klusener also downplayed the earlier incident, calling it a ‘robust discussion.’
Will KL Rahul leave LSG next season?
Whether the dinner truly patched things up remains to be seen. Rahul’s future as LSG captain and even his place in the team for the upcoming season is uncertain. Various reports emerged that the episode between the two mega figures at LSG could might force KL Rahul to leave LSG. The two remaining matches would be extremely crucial, not just for LSG’s playoff chances, but also for the fate of the Rahul-Goenka partnership.
