Sanjiv Goenka Breaks Silence on Rishabh Pant ‘Scolding’ Rumors: “One Incident Doesn’t Define a Person”

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka has broken his silence following a wave of social media criticism regarding his animated on-field interactions with captain Rishabh Pant.

After a viral video surfaced showing an “intense” exchange between Goenka and Pant following LSG’s early-season loss to Delhi Capitals, many fans drew parallels to the infamous 2024 incident involving KL Rahul. In an exclusive interview with NDTV on April 17, 2026, Goenka delivered a sharp and candid response to the online backlash.

“The Punching Bag” – Goenka’s Response to Trolls

Goenka addressed the narrative head-on, stating that he has become an easy target for those looking for social media engagement.

• The “Convenient” Target: “I’ve become a very convenient punching bag. If you run a headline saying ‘Sanjiv Goenka scolds his player,’ you get instant views,” he told NDTV.
• Misinterpreted Gestures: Goenka explained that his natural communication style involves a lot of hand movements and gestures, which are often edited or misinterpreted as aggression. “I am naturally someone who speaks with a lot of hand movements, but seeing how things get misinterpreted, I am now literally learning to keep my hands behind my back while talking!”
• Defending the Captain: He clarified that there is no tension in the dressing room. “With a player like Rishabh, there is never a ‘daat’ (scolding) situation. One incident (from 2024) doesn’t define a person.”

On Team Interference

Addressing critics who claim he meddles in team selection or strategy, Goenka was direct:

“Honestly, for someone who has never played professional cricket, it would be foolish of me to tell my players how to play. I have a massive team of experts who handle the technical side.”

LSG Performance & Season Status

While the off-field drama has taken center stage, the team is working to stabilize its IPL 2026 campaign.

• Current Record: LSG has had a rocky start, including a 6-wicket loss to Delhi Capitals and a 5-wicket loss to RCB on April 15. However, they secured a crucial 3-wicket win against KKR on April 9.
• The Bowling Focus: Goenka admitted earlier that “homework was not strong enough” in previous seasons regarding bowling backups. For 2026, the team has prioritized a domestic bowling core including Mohammed Shami, Mayank Yadav, and Mohsin Khan

LSG Match Info: What’s Next?

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