Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka was seen in an intense conversation with captain Rishabh Pant, along with members of the coaching staff such as Justin Langer, Kane Williamson, and Tom Moody at Ekana Stadium on Wednesday, April 1. The gathering took place after LSG suffered a six-wicket defeat against Delhi Capitals, marking a disappointing start to their IPL 2026 campaign.
Asked to bat first by Axar Patel, LSG struggled with the bat in front of their home crowd. Pant’s move to open the innings failed to pay off, while key players like Ayush Badoni and Nicholas Pooran also couldn’t make an impact. Defending a modest total of 142, LSG initially fought back strongly, with their pace attack reducing DC to 26/4 at one stage.
However, their control slipped as Sameer Rizvi and Tristan Stubbs stitched together an unbeaten partnership to guide DC to victory. After the match, Goenka was spotted on the field in discussion with Pant. Rishabh Pant looked animated with hand gestures, while Sanjiv Goenka pointed during a tense exchange, suggesting it was more than a casual chat.
Watch the moment here:
Sanjiv Goenka having a chat with the team support staff after the loss. pic.twitter.com/qUCi913h57
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) April 1, 2026
BEFORE KL RAHUL, NOW RISHABH PANT 💔
Winning and losing are part of the game, but public humiliation shouldn't be. If Sanjiv Goenka has concerns, they belong in the dressing room, not on a global broadcast. Lecturing a captain like KL Rahul & Rishabh Pant in front of cameras… pic.twitter.com/YDCjeacYAt
— Cricket Central (@CricketCentrl) April 1, 2026
Sanjiv Goenka had previously been seen in a similarly intense exchange with Rishabh Pant during a challenging IPL 2025 campaign. Even earlier, the team owner drew widespread attention for his heated on-field confrontation with then-captain KL Rahul following LSG’s heavy defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2024.
Sanjiv Goenka Backs Rishabh Pant Publicly After LSG vs DC Clash in IPL 2026
Following the match, in which DC chased down the target in 17.1 overs to secure the win, Sanjiv Goenka took to social media to share an encouraging message despite the opening defeat. He expressed strong support for captain Rishabh Pant and voiced confidence that the team would make a strong comeback soon.
“This is a long season, and moments like these are part of building something meaningful. I have full confidence in our captain and the team to respond with strength. To our fans, thank you for your support at Ekana today, we will come back stronger. The story of @LucknowIPL this season is far from written,” he posted on X.
Lucknow Super Giants are set to take on Sunrisers Hyderabad next at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Sunday, April 5.
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