IPL 2025: Sanjiv Goenka confronts Rishabh Pant in KL Rahul-like incident after DC defeat LSG

Sanjiv Goenka confronts Rishabh Pant in KL Rahul-like incident after DC defeat LSG (X/LucknowIPL)

Following LSG's IPL 2025 opening loss to Delhi Capitals, owner Sanjiv Goenka, who spent a record Rs 27 crore at the mega auction to acquire Rishabh Pant for the team, was spotted chatting with the batsman-wicketkeeper captain. LSG failed to finish the game even though DC was on the verge of defeat at 113 for six in the 210-run chase. Ashutosh Sharma got DC off to a winning start with a wicket and three balls remaining by hitting one of his best knocks (66* off 31) under pressure in Visakhapatnam on Monday.

In every way, Pant's first day as captain and player for LSG was ordinary. Pant made a six-ball duck in a game that saw over 420 runs scored and five batters scored at a strike rate of 200 or above. Pant was dismissed by his former DC teammate Kuldeep Yadav.

Watch: After chat with Rishabh Pant, Sanjiv Goenka addresses LSG players post DC loss: ‘Disappointing result…’

Additionally, Pant's performance behind the stumps and captaincy fell short. Despite taking two wickets in his opening over, Shardul Thakur, the LSG unit's most seasoned bowler, was only given two overs. Pant threw the ball to an inexperienced Prince Yadav rather than Shardul, even though 22 runs were required in the final two overs. A total of 16 runs, including two fours and a six, were hit off the inexperienced pacer.

Pant saw value in calling on left-arm spinner Shahbaz Ahmed, who had a run-a-ball to get in the last over. Shardul, who has closed out a few last-over contests for India in the past, was surprisingly ignored.

If Pant had hung on to a stumping opportunity in the final over of the game, all of this could have been undone. Mohit Sharma, DC No. 11, was beaten by a beauty of a delivery by Shahbaz. But Pant was unable to catch the ball behind the stumps since it had changed its direction after hitting Mohit's back pad.

WATCH: Ashutosh Sharma dials up mentor Shikhar Dhawan after incredible show against LSG

"Definitely luck plays a part in this game and if it could have missed his (Mohit Sharma's) pads, it was a chance for stumping. But these things happen in the game of cricket, you can't focus on these things, but rather you need to play better cricket," Pant said in the post-match presentation.

pant bhai wo ek dar tha aapko.......phle match mei ye haal hai pic.twitter.com/nKLEp16pmG
Bikram. (@cookedsnowflake) March 24, 2025

Goenka, the owner of LSG, made the decision to speak with his coach and captain, Justin Langer, following the game. Although the talk was not as heated as the one with former captain KL Rahul during the 2024 Indian Premier League, which many consider to be the start of Rahul's departure from LSG, it served as a subdued reminder to Pant that he would need to improve.