The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Wednesday. Chasing a modest target of 166, SRH openers wreaked havoc on the LSG bowling attack, reaching the target in a mere 9.4 overs. This dismal performance was followed by another blow for LSG captain KL Rahul, who was caught on camera receiving a public dressing down from the team owner, Sanjiv Goenka.
SRH batters torch LSG Bowling
The foundation for SRH’s victory was laid by their openers, Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head. Their explosive batting display, featuring a combined 14 sixes and 16 fours, left the LSG bowlers helpless. Sharma’s unbeaten 75 off 28 balls and Head’s unbeaten 89 off 30 balls sealed the win for SRH.
KL Rahul struggles
Prior to the bowling collapse, KL Rahul himself had a forgettable outing with the bat, scoring a sluggish 29 runs off 33 balls. LSG’s batting was eventually rescued by Nicholas Pooran (48* off 26 balls) and Ayush Badoni (55* off 30 balls), who helped them reach a somewhat respectable total of 165 for 4.
Sanjiv Goenka public Display of Discontent with KL Rahul
Following the crushing defeat, cameras captured Sanjiv Goenka engaging in a heated conversation with KL Rahul near the LSG dugout.
The animated exchange sparked outrage on social media, with many fans criticizing the public display of reprimand. Commentators even weighed in, suggesting such conversations are best held behind closed doors.
Commentator on air said: “You always feel these conversations should always be behind closed doors. There are so many cameras that miss nothing, and KL Rahul is not going to go at press conferences and various other things and probably potentially explain what is being discussed there. He has done well here to keep his cool.”
Fans blast LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka
The video of Sanjiv Goenka’s outburst went viral, attracting strong reactions from fans. Terms like “open dressing room”, “in bad taste”, and “unacceptable” dominated social media discussions. Some fans even urged KL Rahul to consider leaving the LSG franchise.
LSG IPL 2024 Playoff Hopes Dwindle
This defeat pushes LSG down to the sixth position on the points table, with their playoff qualification chances hanging by a thread. With six losses in twelve matches, LSG needs a significant turnaround to secure a playoff spot.
SRH, on the other hand, climbed to the third position with their dominant win, solidifying their place among the IPL frontrunners.
