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Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka has opened up about his equation with Rishabh Pant after the Indian wicketkeeper-batter’s surprising return to Delhi Capitals. Rishabh Pant left LSG after two poor IPL seasons and will now start a fresh chapter with his old franchise.
Pant had joined LSG for a record ₹27 crore at the 2025 mega auction, becoming the most expensive player in IPL history. He then replaced KL Rahul as captain, but LSG failed to reach the playoffs in both 2025 and 2026.
Ahead of IPL 2027, Pant was traded to Delhi Capitals for ₹15 crore, while Kuldeep Yadav moved to LSG for ₹13.5 crore. Earlier, Sanjiv Goenka reveals his biggest regret over Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Sanjiv Goenka reveals his final conversation with Rishabh Pant
Sanjiv Goenka recently appeared on Shubhankar Mishra’s podcast and spoke about his relationship with Rishabh Pant. He made it clear that their equation did not end with the trade when he was asked about his last conversation with the Indian wicketkeeper-batter.
The LSG owner revealed that he and Pant have continued speaking even after the move. He also stressed that there is no major bitterness between them and hinted at a future dinner.
Sanjiv Goenka told Shubhankar Mishra on his podcast, "Our last conversation wasn't just about the trade. We have continued to speak even after that. Good luck to him and best wishes (on the conversation). We plan to have dinner one of these days.”
Interviewer: When Rishabh was leaving, what was your last convo with him? You both ended things on very happy note.
— Drona (@drona_17) September 13, 2026
Goenka: Our last conversation wasn’t just about trade. We keep talking even after that.
Good luck to him & best wishes.We plan to have dinner one of these days.❤️ pic.twitter.com/y6M2nx3TwJ
LSG owner reveals his special bond with Rishabh Pant
The LSG owner said that he is still very fond of Pant and praised his personality off the field. He described the 28-year-old as innocent and childlike, recalling how Pant could warmly approach people and sometimes surprise them with his unexpected pranks.
Goenka further said, “I’m very fond of him [Rishabh Pant]. He has an innocence about him. He is almost childlike. He can come and hold you from behind with love, just like a child would. He can also come from anywhere and prank you. That’s the kind of person he is.”
Well, Pant’s time at LSG turned out to be far from what the franchise had expected. After being bought for a record price and handed the captaincy, he could not take the team to the playoffs in either of his two seasons. He also struggled as a batter as well after joining the LSG.
Rishabh Pant surpasses MS Dhoni with historic Test milestone
Well, Pant has continued to make a strong impact in international cricket. He featured for India in the recent Test series in Sri Lanka, where India won the series 1-0 after winning the first Test in Galle. The second Test ended in a draw after Sonal Dinusha survived for five sessions following Sri Lanka’s follow-on. Amid this, Sanjiv Goenka opens up on Rishabh Pant after Delhi Capitals trade.
During that match, Pant achieved a major milestone by moving past MS Dhoni as India’s highest run-scorer as a designated wicketkeeper in away or neutral Tests. Pant has now scored 2,534 runs in such Tests at an average of more than 41.
Dhoni had scored 2,496 runs, while Farokh Engineer, Syed Kirmani, and Kiran More complete are the top five on the list with 1,209, 1,109, and 901 runs, respectively. Pant also moved past Australia's great Adam Gilchrist to become the third-highest six-hitter in Test cricket.
