Pant’s struggles continue as Goenka’s intense chat sparks deja vu of KL Rahul incident

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka was seen in a serious discussion with captain Rishabh Pant after their disappointing eight-wicket loss to Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. The post-match visuals of their conversation have gone viral, with fans speculating that the franchise boss was unhappy with the team’s performance.

LSG struggled with the bat, posting only 171/7 in their 20 overs. The total proved insufficient as Punjab Kings chased it down comfortably in just 16.2 overs. Pant, who was acquired for a staggering ₹27 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction, once again failed to impress with the bat, getting dismissed for just 2 off 5 balls against Glenn Maxwell.

This is not the first time Goenka has been spotted having a long chat with Pant after a match. A similar scene was witnessed after LSG’s opening loss against Delhi Capitals (DC), raising concerns over the franchise’s start to the season. Pant’s poor form has been a key talking point, as he has managed just 17 runs from three matches. His scores so far read 0 (6) vs DC, 15 (15) vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), and 2 (5) vs PBKS.

Apart from his batting struggles, Pant has also faced criticism for his wicketkeeping errors in LSG’s opening game. His failure to justify his high auction price has put additional pressure on him as the team captain. With LSG suffering their first home defeat, the management appears to be seeking answers.

The intense exchange between Goenka and Pant reminded fans of a similar incident from IPL 2024, when KL Rahul, the then LSG captain, was seen in a tense conversation with Goenka after a poor performance. That incident had fueled rumors of dissatisfaction within the franchise.

With the IPL season still in its early stages, Pant and LSG will have to turn things around quickly to stay competitive. The upcoming fixtures will be crucial for the skipper to prove his worth, both as a batsman and as a leader.