The Lucknow Super Giants fell to a crushing 8-wicket defeat against the Punjab Kings on their home turf. After posting 171 runs, the team watched as Punjab chased down the target in just 16.2 overs. This loss marked the second defeat for Punjab this season.
Post-match, Sanjiv Goenka was spotted having a heated conversation with Rishabh Pant on the field. Goenka seemed visibly upset, and a photo of the team’s dressing room has surfaced, showing Goenka gesturing to Pant, who looks down, listening intently.
Pant, the team’s captain, has been struggling with his form. Against Punjab, he managed a mere 2 runs before getting out. In the first match, he scored 15 runs, but in the second, he failed to even open his account. As one of the most expensive players in the IPL, having been bought for a record 27 crores, the expectations are high.
This isn’t the first time Goenka has been seen having a stern chat with his team’s captain. Last year, he had a similar exchange with KL Rahul, which drew a lot of criticism. While the exact words exchanged between Goenka and Pant are unknown, it’s clear that Goenka is far from pleased with the team’s performance. The incident has sparked a range of reactions on social media.
Reactions on Social Media
Scene created between Goenka & Pant. 🧐#PBKSvsLSG pic.twitter.com/oU9AS4kbN5
— Kunal Yadav (@Kunal_KLR) April 1, 2025
Sanjiv Goenka and Rishabh Pant after the match. 👀 pic.twitter.com/AzyGSCYPLd
— Vishal. (@SPORTYVISHAL) April 1, 2025
Sanjiv Goenka started abusing Rishabh Pant in the Dressing Room after losing LSG vs PBKS IPL match again.#SanjivGoenka #RishabhPant #LSGvPBKS #IPL2025 🔥 pic.twitter.com/qlJsiGtyaV
— 🏏 (@Crickaith) April 1, 2025
The Lucknow Super Giants, under Pant’s captaincy, had a mixed start to the season. They lost their first match to the Delhi Capitals by a single wicket, despite being in a winning position. They then bounced back with a 5-wicket win over the Sunrisers Hyderabad. However, their third match ended in an 8-wicket defeat to the Punjab Kings, led by Shreyas Iyer. The team’s next match is against the Mumbai Indians at the same venue, the Ekana Stadium.