Sanjiv Goenka Rishabh Pant Chat Sparks Debate After LSG’s Loss to DC
The much-talked-about Sanjiv Goenka Rishabh Pant chat after Lucknow Super Giants’ shocking defeat to Delhi Capitals in their IPL 2025 opener has triggered discussions across cricketing circles. The visuals of Goenka speaking with Pant right after the match ended have gone viral, reminding fans of a similar episode with KL Rahul during IPL 2024.
Pant’s Disappointing Captaincy and Performance
On his debut match as captain for LSG, Rishabh Pant had a forgettable outing. In a high-scoring contest where over 420 runs were amassed, Pant got out for a six-ball duck, falling to his former Delhi Capitals teammate Kuldeep Yadav. His performance behind the stumps also left much to be desired.
Pant’s captaincy decisions raised eyebrows. Despite Shardul Thakur picking two wickets in his first over, he was bizarrely given only two overs in total. In a crucial situation with 22 runs required off the last two overs, Pant handed the ball to the relatively inexperienced Prince Yadav instead of Shardul. Prince conceded 16 runs, putting the match beyond reach.
Critical Miss in the Last Over
The pressure mounted in the final over with Delhi needing just six runs. Pant opted for left-arm spinner Shahbaz Ahmed instead of Thakur. When Shahbaz beat No.11 Mohit Sharma with a peach, Pant missed a potential match-turning stumping. The ball deflected off Mohit’s pad, and Pant failed to collect cleanly. That proved to be the final opportunity as DC won the game with three balls to spare.
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Pant said,
“Definitely luck plays a part. If it had missed his (Mohit Sharma’s) pads, it was a chance for stumping. But you can’t focus on that — you need to play better cricket.”
Sanjiv Goenka Rishabh Pant Chat: Subtle Yet Significant
What caught everyone’s attention was the Sanjiv Goenka Rishabh Pant chat right after the loss. The LSG owner, who had broken records to sign Pant for ₹27 crore, had a quiet conversation with the captain and head coach Justin Langer. While not as visibly animated as the one with KL Rahul last year, the discussion was widely seen as a message — Pant would need to deliver better performances and make smarter leadership decisions.
The timing of the Sanjiv Goenka Rishabh Pant chat — right after a disheartening defeat — echoed memories of Goenka’s confrontation with Rahul, which eventually led to Rahul losing the captaincy. With Pant’s captaincy already under scrutiny, this early-season talk could prove to be a turning point.
Ashutosh Sharma’s Heroics Steal the Show
While the spotlight remained on the Sanjiv Goenka Rishabh Pant chat, Ashutosh Sharma stole the show with a breathtaking unbeaten 66 off 31 balls. Coming in as an impact substitute for Delhi Capitals, Ashutosh staged a remarkable rescue act, guiding DC from 65-5 to 210 with a six to win the game.
DC were in deep trouble early in their chase, losing three wickets inside two overs and then half the side for just 65 runs. New skipper Axar Patel (22 off 12) and Tristan Stubbs (34) played supporting roles before Ashutosh took charge.
Looking Ahead: LSG Must Regroup Quickly
This defeat has left Lucknow Super Giants with serious questions, especially around leadership and team strategy. The Sanjiv Goenka Rishabh Pant chat might have been discreet, but it sent a clear signal: improvements must be made swiftly.
With big expectations from Pant as both a leader and finisher, LSG will need a quick turnaround in form and clarity in execution. Whether the Goenka-Pant meeting leads to introspection or added pressure remains to be seen, but it has undoubtedly become one of the early talking points of IPL 2025.
