The defeat suffered by the Lucknow Super Giants at the hands of Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 8 upset team owner Sanjiv Goenka, who was seen engaging in a heated discussion with captain KL Rahul right on the field. The video capturing this intense exchange quickly gained traction on social media platforms, drawing significant criticism from netizens.

The disappointment among the Lucknow team was palpable, with Goenka, Rahul, and their teammates visibly affected by the loss, which dealt a significant blow to their aspirations of making it to the IPL 2024 playoffs. The defeat left them disheartened and reflecting on what went wrong in their performance.

Fans were left dismayed by the lackluster performance of LSG bowlers and top-order batters during the IPL match held at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. The team’s failure to deliver up to expectations led to widespread disappointment among supporters, who had hoped for a better outcome.

Despite arriving in Hyderabad with high hopes of maintaining their unbeaten record against former champions SunRisers, Lucknow Super Giants faltered against a resurgent SRH side. Despite posting a respectable total of 165, the Super Giants watched helplessly as SunRisers chased down the target in just 9.4 overs, setting a new T20 record in the process. This comprehensive defeat served as a wake-up call for the Lucknow franchise, highlighting the need for introspection and improvement as they strive to bounce back stronger in the remaining matches of the tournament.

Adding to the dismay was Goenka’s public criticism of KL Rahul, which drew ire from many fans and observers alike. The public nature of the criticism further fueled the controversy surrounding the team’s performance and management.

Goenka owns both the Lucknow Super Giants IPL franchise and the Mohun Bagan Super Giant ISL football team.

Here are 5 points about Sanjiv Goenka

1. In 2010, Sanjiv Goenka assumed leadership of the RPSG Group following the division of RPG Group’s businesses between him and his brother Harsh Goenka.

2. Ranked at the 949th position on the Forbes Billionaires List 2024, Goenka boasts a net worth of $3.4 billion, making him the 84th wealthiest individual in India.

3. In 2015, he secured the ownership rights for one of the two replacement franchises, Rising Pune Supergiants, in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the two-year period spanning 2016 and 2017.

4. Goenka hails from Kolkata, where he was born and raised. He obtained his B.Com degree from the prestigious St. Xavier’s College in the city.

5. He was honored with the ‘Banga Bibhusan 2015,’ the highest civilian award of the state, by the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, and the Governor of the state, K.N. Tripathy. Additionally,  Goenka serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Woodlands Medical Centre Ltd., where he holds the prestigious title of Honorary Consul of Canada.