Sanjiv Goenka, the owner of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), came up with a heartwarming gesture for Rishabh Pant after the latter led the team to a thumping victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Thursday (March 27).
After opening their campaign in IPL 2025 with a heartbreaking 1-wicket defeat against Delhi Capitals earlier this week, the Rishabh Pant-led side opened their account with a brilliant five-wicket win over SRH.
The LSG skipper won the toss and opted to field first, a decision that was well-backed by his teammates. SRH, who had scored 286/6 in their previous game at the same venue, struggled to hit the top gear throughout the innings and eventually finished their innings on 190/9.
Even though the total was a very competitive one, it was still not above par on a ground that has been witnessing 200-plus totals regularly since the last season. For LSG, Shardul Thakur starred with the ball, taking 4 wickets for 34 runs.
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With the bat, LSG chased down the total inside 17 overs by losing five wickets. They were off to a shaky start with Aiden Markram departing for just 1. However, in-form Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh scored their second consecutive fifty to put LSG in the driver’s seat.
The duo shared a decisive 116-run stand for the second wicket. Pooran played a whirlwind knock once again, smashing 70 runs off just 26 balls. His knock was studded with six fours and as many sixes. On the other hand, Marsh scored 52 runs off 31 balls.
LSG did lose a handful of wickets towards the end but eventually crossed the finishing line with ease. And soon after they secured the victory, Sanjiv Goenka decided to go to the team dugout and hug Rishabh Pant. The latest exchange between the owner and the captain was very different from the one that they had after the game against Delhi Capitals.
After the loss against DC, Sanjiv Goenka was seen having an animated chat with Pant and head coach Justin Langer in the dugout. However, the LSG owner made sure to laud his captain and appreciate him for leading his team to such an emphatic win over the in-form team on Thursday.
Watch the moment between Rishabh Pant and Sanjiv Goenka:
— Drizzyat12Kennyat8 (@45kennyat7PM) March 27, 2025
When Sanjiv Goenka lost his cool:
This was the same venue where Goenka had lost his cool last season which led to a major controversy.
After LSG had suffered a heavy defeat against SRH in IPL 2024, Goenka had a heated exchange with the then-captain KL Rahul. The franchise later decided to release Rahul before buying Pant and naming him as their new captain.
