DC vs LSG: Mohammed Shami tears apart Sanjiv Goenka for his brash behaviour with KL Rahul

Indian pacer Mohammed Shami voiced his support for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) skipper KL Rahul amid the controversy surrounding him and Sanjiv Goenka. Mohammed Shami criticized Sanjiv Goenka's actions, stating that he could've addressed the matter in the dressing room rather than publicly.

The Super Giants faced a 10-wicket defeat against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on May 8. The defeat shattered their hopes of reaching the IPL 2024 playoffs with a decline in their net run rate (NRR). Now, their future depends on the outcomes of other matches.

Following the defeat in Hyderabad, LSG owner Sanjeev Goenka was visibly upset and engaged in an animated conversation with captain KL Rahul on the field. Fans and cricket experts criticized Goenka over the conversation in public, calling the behavior towards Rahul unprofessional and unacceptable.

You Are A Respectful Person - Mohammed Shami

Speaking to Cricbuzz, Mohammed Shami criticized Sanjiv Goenka for disrespecting KL Rahul publicly, labeling it as shameful. Shami stated that such matters should be addressed privately, rather than in front of cameras.

“Players have respect, and you are a respectful person, too, as you are an owner. Many people are watching you and learning from you. If these things happen in front of cameras… ye sharam ki baat hai. it's a matter of shame,” Shami said.

“If you have to do that, there are many different ways. You could've done the same thing in the dressing room or the hotel. It wasn't necessary to do it on the field. Aise reaction dekar laal qile pe jhanda toh gaada nahi hai aapne (It isn't as if you hoisted a flag at Red Fort by doing this),” he added.

KL Rahul struggled to score in his recent match as he was dismissed for 29 runs off 33 balls. The visiting team managed to score just 27 runs inside the powerplay. The Lucknow-based team posted a total of 165 runs in 20 overs, with contributions from Ayush Badoni (55) and Nicholas Pooran (48).

In response, the Pat Cummins-led team successfully chased down the target of 166 runs in just 9.4 overs. Travis Head scored an unbeaten 89 runs off 30 balls, while Abhishek Sharma added an unbeaten 75 runs off 38 balls. Sunrisers Hyderabad recorded a ten-wicket victory over the Lucknow Super Giants.

This Sends A Very Strong Message - Mohammed Shami

Mohammed Shami stated that public criticism of the captain is unjustified, adding that team plans may not always succeed. The 33-year-old pacer stated that every player deserves respect and emphasized the importance of respectful communication.

“He's the captain, too, not a normal player. It's a team game; if the plan isn't successful, it isn't a big thing. Anything is possible in the game. I understand there can be good or bad days, but every player has respect, and there's a way to talk. This sends a very wrong message,” Shami further added.

The KL Rahul-led team is currently in the standings with six wins and six losses. The LSG team faces stiff competition from teams like the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Delhi Capitals (DC), and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the playoff race.

Also read: RCB vs DC: Virat Kohli LEVELS KL Rahul's massive record after his 92-run knock against Punjab Kings