Sanjiv Goenka points finger at Rishabh Pant in intense chat; hugs Shreyas Iyer to spark transfer fear among fans

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka has once again made headlines for his animated on-field interactions with his team’s captain. After LSG's eight-wicket loss to Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the IPL 2025 season at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on April 1 (Tuesday), Goenka was spotted having a prolonged and a seemingly intense conversation with skipper Rishabh Pant. The incident brought back memories of a similar exchange he had with former LSG captain KL Rahul, sparking social media outrage.

LSG faced their second defeat in three matches so far in the ongoing Indian Premier League edition. Despite boasting a strong squad, LSG's batting lineup struggled, managing only 171/7—a total PBKS chased down with ease. The loss saw LSG slip further down the points table, sparking concerns over the team's form and Rishabh Pant’s leadership.

After the defeat, Goenka first greeted Shreyas Iyer with a warm hug and engaged in a lengthy conversation. However, his interaction with Rishabh Pant was far less friendly, as cameras captured Goenka pointing his finger at the struggling captain in a tense exchange. Fans drew parallels between this discussion and the past LSG captain KL Rahul controversy, where franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka had a heated exchange with Rahul during IPL 2025—an incident speculated to be a factor in Rahul’s decision to leave the team.