DC vs LSG: Days after publicly bashing KL Rahul, Sanjiv Goenka does this to fix things
Published - 14 May 2024, 05:10 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 10:45 PM
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka hosted captain KL Rahul for dinner at his Delhi residence amidst rumors of a rift between them. Sanjiv Goenka and KL Rahul were seen hugging each other, and the photos went viral across social media platforms and the internet.
Lucknow Super Giants suffered a heavy loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad in their recent match in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Sanjiv Goenka had an animated chat with KL Rahul following the loss. The Hyderabad-based team chased down 166 runs target in under 10 overs.
The 10-wicket defeat significantly impacted the KL Rahul-led team's net run rate (NRR). They have 12 points in 12 matches with an NRR of -0.769, which is the lowest among all teams. They're still in contention for a playoff spot, but their poor NRR could hinder their chances.
Former cricketers and fans criticized Sanjiv Goenka for his actions towards KL Rahul, labeling them as unnecessary. Reports surfaced about KL Rahul possibly stepping down from the captaincy for the rest of IPL 2024 and being unlikely to be retained by LSG for IPL 2025.
As per reports, Sanjiv Goenka invited KL Rahul for dinner on Monday night. Goenka and Rahul hugged each other, with a photo circulating on social media amid rumors of a rift between them.
So for all those who think that there is a rift between LSG captain KL Rahul and team owner Sanjeev Goenka..this is a pic from what was apparently a private dinner yesterday evening at Mr Goenka's home..all is well between them and with LSG..cheers! @<!---->L<!---->u<!---->c<!---->k<!---->n<!---->o<!---->w<!---->I<!---->P<!---->L #<!---->I<!---->P<!---->L<!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4 p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->m<!---->H<!---->L<!---->L<!---->L<!---->W<!---->G<!---->R<!---->p<!---->s
— Gaurav Gupta (@toi_gauravG) M<!---->a<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4
It’s A Massive Storm In A Teacup - Justin Langer
LSG coach Justin Langer described the conversation between Sanjiv Goenka and KL Rahul as relatively calm despite appearances. Langer clarified that Goenka simply discussed the team's strategies following their disappointing loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad.
“It’s a massive storm in a teacup, in fact in an espresso cup. The thing that fascinates me about India is this incredible passion about cricket. Mr Goenka is no different. I’m no different. KL is no different,” Langer told The Times of India.
“Our plan for the game didn’t go perfectly. In fact, it was a disaster. After the game, Mr Goenka came onto the field and asked KL, ‘What happened? Our plan that we talked about hasn’t worked. What do we do now?’ And then we talked through it. The sound was off, no one heard what was said. It might have looked quite aggressive, but it was really quite tame.”
The Super Giants posted only 27 runs for the loss of two wickets in the powerplay. Captain KL Rahul scored 29 runs off 33 balls. However, they managed to reach 165/4, with Ayush Badoni (55*) and Nicholas Pooran (47*) forming an unbeaten 99-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
The KL Rahul-led team is in seventh place in the standings. They face stiff competition from the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Delhi Capitals (DC), and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for a playoff berth. They will face the Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on May 14.
