IPL franchise Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka has applauded star India batter KL Rahul. Notably, Rahul was associated with LSG from 2022 to 2024 after joining them for Rs 17 crore ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction. However, he scored 1410 runs in 38 matches. Under his leadership, LSG finished in the top four of the IPL 2022 points table and secured a place in the playoffs as well.

The star India batter was released by LSG before the IPL 2025 mega auction, which took place in Jeddah on November 24 and 25. Notably, he joined Delhi Capitals for Rs 14 crore and is likely to lead the franchise in the upcoming season of the IPL as well.

"He served as Lucknow captain for three years and performed well as a batter" - Sanjiv Goenka on KL Rahul

During his recent appearance on the TRS show, Sanjiv Goenka was asked about KL Rahul, and in response he also said that Rahul is like his family.

“KL mere liye hamesha se family rahe hai and hamesha family rahenge. He served as Lucknow captain for three years and performed well as a batter. Mere dil se unke liye hamesha dua hi niklegi, no matter what happens. He is a very gentle man. He is so talented. Jitna unka talent hai, vo ubhar ke bahar aaye. I have so much love and respect for him in my heart," Goenka said.

SEE ALSO: 'Good to see him working on the game' - Harbhajan Singh on Virat Kohli

"I’ve never seen a leader like MS Dhoni" - Sanjiv Goenka

Sanjiv Goenka also applauded legendary Indian cricketer MS Dhoni and shared why the veteran wicketkeeper-batter is the greatest captain.

“I’ve never seen a leader like MS Dhoni. It’s crazy how even to this day he keeps reinventing himself. Just look at Pathirana, a baby bowler. Don’t know where MS saw him and now groomed him into a lethal match winner. He knows how to use his players well, and he keeps on thinking. Whenever I interact with him, I always learn something," Goenka said.

“I have an 11-year-old grandson who is crazy about cricket. Dhoni in my home taught him how to play cricket, some 5-6 years ago. He constantly asked him questions, and I told my grandson, ‘Leave him now.’ Dhoni replied, ‘Let it be; I am enjoying this conversation.’ Dhoni went on to have a conversation with him for half an hour. This human quality with a kid where he spent so much time for a kid. It makes you learn how to speak with others, and that is why he is Dhoni. Whenever he plays against Lucknow, the entire stadium is filled with yellow to support him," he concluded.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner, Sanjiv Goenka, was seen showering praise on captain KL Rahul for his remarkable juggling catch during their match against Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday (May 14). Rahul’s catch dismissed Shai Hope, who scored 38 runs off 27 balls, comprising of two sixes and three boundaries. The catch broke the crucial 92-run partnership between Hope and Abishek Porel for the second wicket, occurring in the ninth over of DC’s innings.

Ravi Bishnoi delivered a flat ball outside off, which Hope aimed straight to cover. Although the catch required a second attempt as the ball popped out of Rahul’s hands initially, Goenka, along with the fans, applauded Rahul’s exceptional effort.

Watch the video of this amazing catch

Goenka’s appreciative reaction follows a recent incident where he was seen engaged in an animated conversation with Rahul after LSG’s defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by 10 wickets in under 10 overs. This incident led to criticism on social media, with suggestions for Rahul to part ways with the franchise next season.

LSG make an amazing comeback today

In the ongoing IPL 2024 match against DC, LSG made a strong comeback by securing two crucial dismissals. Ravi Bishnoi and Naveen-ul-Haq removed Shai Hope and Abishek Porel, respectively. Porel managed to score an impressive 58 off 33 deliveries, including four sixes and five boundaries.

As of now, the Capitals stand at 196/4 after 19 overs, with captain Rishabh Pant and Tristan Stubbs at the crease. With their recent losses against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and SRH, LSG, led by KL Rahul, currently holds 12 points in 12 games. To remain in contention for the playoffs, they must secure victories in their remaining two matches.

See Also: Watch: Kerala’s emotional tribute to Sanju Samson

Meanwhile, DC has amassed 12 points in 13 matches and could potentially reach a maximum of 14 points if they defeat LSG for the second time this season. However, their qualification for the playoffs hinges on the results of other matches in the tournament.

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has weighed in on the upcoming T20 World Cup, suggesting that the Indian team should utilize Virat Kohli’s exceptional form by opening with him in the tournament. Ganguly highlighted Kohli’s impressive performances in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), where he currently holds the Orange Cap with 634 runs from 12 matches, averaging 70.44.

Ganguly emphasized Kohli’s recent batting prowess, stating, “The way Kohli batted last night – 90 in quick time, you need to use him as an opener in T20 World Cup. He should open, evidenced by his last few IPL innings which have been outstanding.”

Ganguly express confidence about the squad ahead T20 WC

Regarding India’s chances in the T20 World Cup, Ganguly expressed confidence in the squad’s balance and capability to clinch the trophy after a 17-year gap. He acknowledged India’s lone triumph in the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in 2007 and believes the current team has the potential to replicate that success.

“This is an excellent squad. I think they have picked the best possible squad. Apart from batting depth, bowling looks excellent.

“Bumrah is the best fast bowler in the world at the moment. We have experience in Kuldeep, Axar, Siraj. It’s an ideal combination we have this time,” said Ganguly.

“This is going to be the trend in the years to come. T20 cricket has become a power-oriented game and that’s what it is going to be.

“I was reading Sanju Samson’s comments the other day, where he said there’s no time to settle down in modern T20s. You just have to hit, and that’s the way it is going to be,” said Ganguly.

Commenting on the evolving nature of T20 cricket, Ganguly noted the trend of teams consistently surpassing the 250-run mark in the IPL. He attributed this trend to the evolved mindset of batters and the Impact Player rule, emphasizing the need for bowlers to enhance their skills to counter the aggressive batting displays. Ganguly cited the example of pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who has excelled in both IPL and international cricket with his exceptional bowling skills.

“Now, in IPL we are seeing scores like 240, 250 regularly. The main reasons are good batting wickets and the grounds are also not big in India. In the last game between Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan (Royals), 26 sixes were hit in a 40-over game, which is almost one six every over.

“That’s how this game has gone and that’s how the players have started approaching the game. The Impact Player rule, where every team has the possibility of adding another batsman, has also added another dimension to it,” he detailed.

“It is not fair for me to make a comment based on a TV grab…”

Addressing questions about the T20 World Cup squad selection, Ganguly supported the inclusion of wicketkeeper-batters Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson over Dinesh Karthik. He stated, “Dinesh played well but there are better players than Dinesh. I don’t think you can leave Sanju or Rishabh out.”

Regarding the recent controversy involving Lucknow Super Giants skipper KL Rahul and team owner Sanjiv Goenka, Ganguly refrained from commenting, stating it wouldn’t be fair to make a judgment based on limited information.

“It is not fair for me to make a comment based on a TV grab. I don’t know what Sanjeev had spoken to Rahul. So, I leave it at that,” he said.

See Also: Watch: Rohit Sharma’s chat with Abhishek Nayar goes viral, KKR delete video

Ganguly’s insights shed light on the strategic decisions surrounding team composition and player roles ahead of the highly anticipated T20 World Cup.

After a crushing defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) face a crucial moment as their captain, KL Rahul, is considering quitting his leadership role for the remaining league matches of the IPL 2024.

Back-to-Back Defeats

The woes for LSG began with consecutive losses against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), casting doubt on their playoff aspirations. The defeat to SRH, characterized by a dominant batting display by Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, underscored the team’s vulnerabilities.

Owner’s Outburst

Owner Sanjiv Goenka‘s public criticism of Rahul in the aftermath of the SRH loss further exacerbated the situation, highlighting the mounting pressure on the captain and the team management.

Videos of LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka’s agitated conversation with Rahul emerged on social media after SRH openers made a mockery of LSG bowlers and won the match by 10 wickets.

Notably, Goenka was the owner of the Rising Pune Supergiants when they sacked MS Dhoni as captain and appointed Steve Smith in their second season.

See Also: Watch: LSG owner caught scolding KL Rahul after their loss to SRH

Considerations for Stepping Down

Reports suggest that Rahul, who has shouldered significant responsibility as both captain and key batsman, may opt to step down to focus on his batting prowess for the remaining fixtures. The decision, if taken, could mark a significant shift in the team’s dynamics and strategy.

“There is a five-day gap before the next game against DC. As of now, no decision has been taken but it is understood that if Rahul plans to just concentrate on his batting for the remaining two games, the management won’t mind,” an IPL source told PTI on condition of anonymity.

The Road Ahead

Despite the setbacks, LSG remains mathematically in contention for a playoff berth, with an opportunity to accrue crucial points in their remaining fixtures against the Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians. LSG are still mathematically in contention as they can reach 16 points by winning their remaining two games, vs. the Delhi Capitals in New Delhi on May 14 and vs. the Mumbai Indians at Wankhede on May 17.

Potential Leadership Transition

Should Rahul decide to step down, vice captain Nicholas Pooran emerges as a frontrunner to assume the leadership mantle for the remaining matches. Pooran’s formidable batting prowess and experience could provide a stabilizing influence on the team.

The clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the 57th match of IPL 2024 left cricket fans in awe as SRH delivered a dominating performance at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.

LSG’s Struggle

Lucknow Super Giants, captained by KL Rahul, opted to bat first but faced significant challenges against the SRH bowlers. Despite scoring a respectable total of 165 runs, LSG struggled to maintain momentum throughout their innings.

See Also: Sachin Tendulkar hails Head-Abhishek havoc against LSG

KL Rahul himself scored just 29 runs off 33 balls in the match where both Sunrisers Hyderabad openers smashed at a strike rate of close to 300. SRH win this win have taken a big step towards the playoff berth and have moved to the number 3 position while LSG now need to win both their remaining games and hope that some other results go their way.

SRH’s Dominance

In response, the Sunrisers Hyderabad openers, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, unleashed a relentless onslaught on the LSG bowlers. Their partnership of 167 runs was a testament to their exceptional batting prowess, as they chased down the target in just 9.4 overs.

Sanjiv Goenka’s Reaction

Following the match, LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka was visibly displeased with the team’s performance. He was seen engaging in a heated conversation with captain KL Rahul, expressing his frustration with the team’s approach and outcome in such a crucial match.

Impact on Playoff Race

SRH’s emphatic victory propelled them to the third position in the IPL 2024 standings, significantly boosting their chances of securing a playoff berth. On the other hand, LSG now finds themselves in a precarious position, needing to win their remaining games and rely on other results to advance to the playoffs.