Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) find themselves embroiled in a controversy after a video of team owner Sanjiv Goenka engaged in a heated conversation with captain KL Rahul following their demoralising 10-wicket defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) went viral.
The incident, which unfolded on the boundary line after the match, has cast a shadow over LSG's season and sparked speculation about Rahul's long-term future with the franchise.
Commentators, including former South Africa skipper Graeme Smith, expressed their disapproval of the public exchange, highlighting the importance of such discussions happening behind closed doors.
Sources within the LSG camp reveal that the discussion centered on the team's underwhelming batting performance. On a pitch known for its high-scoring nature, LSG could only muster a meagre 165/4 in their allotted 20 overs.
In stark contrast, SRH openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma chased down the target with remarkable ease, requiring just 9.4 overs. While Head and Sharma played at a blistering pace, Rahul's knock lacked intent, as evidenced by his strike rate of 87.87.
Reports suggest that Goenka and the LSG management questioned the team's overall approach and lack of purpose at the crease. This heavy defeat, coupled with a significant dent in their net run-rate, has placed LSG's playoff hopes precariously on the results of other matches.
Despite the tense atmosphere, the team has resumed training, with Rahul reportedly going about his business as usual. However, behind the scenes, discussions regarding Rahul's captaincy and his future with LSG are said to be ongoing.
Goenka's track record as an owner adds another layer of intrigue to this situation. During his stint with the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiants, he had made a similar captaincy change, removing MS Dhoni and handing the reins to Steve Smith after a disappointing season.
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