Sanjiv Goenka’s Chat with KL Rahul Revealed: LSG Owner Clarifies Team Selection Role

Sanjiv Goenka’s Chat with KL Rahul Revealed: Cricket folks generally feel that Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka is too hard and always speaks about positive outcomes. Several videos emerged showing some of the Goenka-Rishabh Pant interactions on the field, though such speculations gained traction predominantly last year when Goenka was seen animatedly chatting with the then-captain KL Rahul after the team was humiliated by SunRisers Hyderabad by ten wickets.

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In the meantime, Amit Mishra, the former LSG spinner, has now debunked this myth by asserting that Sanjiv Goenka is quite friendly and just wants the best for the team at all times. Talking to Cricbuzz, Amit Mishra disclosed that KL Rahul was making every decision last season.

The 42-year-old further stated that things are far from the same this season as it appears externally that team mentor Zaheer Khan and head coach Justin Langer are having a lot more say, and really, it is a collective unit out there.

"I spoke to the coach last season, and he told me that KL Rahul is doing all the work. He is making the 11s, making all the changes, and planning. But this year, I don't feel like that. This year, when Zaheer Khan has gone, I feel like he is talking to everyone. If you see, there is a discussion going on, they are talking to each other," Mishra said.

"I saw the coach Justin Langer on the pitch before the match against Mumbai Indians. He was speaking to Digvesh Rathi. So, I feel that the discussion is going well overall. I don't feel he is very involved if you talk about the owner. Yes, he definitely wants to win. But he always stays positive when coming to the dressing room," he added.

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'Media has shown a little too much'

Amit Mishra, too, discussed the conversation between KL Rahul and Sanjiv Goenka after the LSG folded for more than 160 runs in ten overs against Pat Cummins' SRH last season, saying that Sanjiv Goenka had only commented about how he wanted his team to show fight at all times.

"I feel that the media has shown off a little too much. I didn't feel that there was anything like that. But this time, I feel that the overall discussion is going on. It is not like that at all. I can say this because we were losing two matches very badly. We lost in Kolkata in an awful way. We lost the match in 11 overs. Then we went to Hyderabad, where we lost the match in 9 overs," said Mishra.

"So, if there is any owner, he says that losing is okay, but just go out there and show some fight. Fight and lose, I have no problem. This is what people told me. This is what happened. But I feel that even after losing so badly, we lost two matches more. He came to the dressing room. The owner gives motivation to the team. He never said anything wrong or said anything in a very high tone," he added.

On the lines of KL Rahul and Sanjiv Goenka, the latter did try to speak to the India batter after Lucknow Super Giants got beaten by Delhi Capitals this season. However, Rahul seemed in a hurry and shook hands with him and his son before walking back to the dugout.

Lucknow Super Giants lost Fifty-four runs to the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. The team is currently positioned at sixth in the points table.

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