The aftermath of Tuesday night’s IPL clash between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Ekana Cricket Stadium has been dominated by a rather frosty exchange between former LSG captain KL Rahul and the franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka.
KL Rahul ignores Sanjiv Goenka after DC’s win over LSG
Following a commanding 8-wicket victory for Delhi Capitals, orchestrated by an unbeaten half-century from Rahul himself, the customary post-match handshakes took an awkward turn. As players from both sides exchanged pleasantries, Goenka approached Rahul with a smile and extended his hand.
However, much to the surprise of onlookers and the cameras present, Rahul offered a very brief handshake, seemingly without making eye contact, and immediately walked away towards DC’s dugout. Goenka appeared to attempt a conversation, but Rahul was in no mood for interaction and continued his exit, leaving the LSG owner standing on the field.
Adding to the perceived snub, Rahul also seemingly avoided acknowledging Goenka’s son, who was standing close by.
Here’s the video:
Sanjiv Goenka tried to interact with KL Rahul but he quickly went away from him. 🙅♂️😮#LSGvsDC | #KLRahulpic.twitter.com/L1PeKiKKZW
— Indian Cricket Team (@incricketteam) April 22, 2025
This cold interaction has quickly gone viral on social media, reigniting discussions about the circumstances surrounding Rahul’s departure from the Lucknow Super Giants ahead of the IPL 2025 season. Rahul had captained the LSG franchise for three seasons, from 2022 to 2024.
IPL history between KL Rahul and Sanjeev Gaoenka
Tensions between Rahul and Goenka reportedly surfaced during the previous IPL season. A video from IPL 2024 showed Goenka in an animated discussion with Rahul on the boundary line after a heavy defeat, an exchange that drew criticism for its public nature. While the official reason for Rahul’s exit from LSG was his desire for a “fresh start” and a “lighter team atmosphere,” many believe the prior incident played a significant role.
Interestingly, before the season, Goenka had alluded to prioritizing players who put the team first, while Rahul had spoken about seeking an environment where he could play with more freedom.
KL Rahul completes 5000 runs in IPL T20
On the field, Rahul’s performance spoke volumes. Playing against his former team for the first time, he anchored Delhi Capitals’ chase with a composed and unbeaten 57 off 44 balls, also reaching the milestone of 5000 IPL runs in the process, becoming the fastest to do so in the league’s history (in 130 innings).
Also READ: Fastest to 5000 runs in the history of IPL ft. KL Rahul
