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'Leave Out MS Dhoni, Steve Smith': Goenka Recalls RPS' IPL 2017 Final Vs Mumbai Indians

Steve Smith and MS Dhoni during IPL 2017 (x.com)Steve Smith and MS Dhoni during IPL 2017 (x.com)

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka seems to have launched a scathing attack on struggling team captain KL Rahul. Under the leadership of Rahul, the LSG franchise failed to reach the playoffs in this year’s IPL 2024 season. Moreover, after LSG’s defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad on May 8, Goenka was spotted having a seemingly-heated discussion with KL Rahul near the boundary line.

Notably, Goenka previously owned another IPL franchise in the form of the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) for two seasons in 2016 and 2017. Under the captaincy of Steve Smith and supervision of senior man MS Dhoni, the RPS reached the finals of the IPL 2017 season where they lost to Mumbai Indians by a solitary run.

LSG owner advices KL Rahul’s team to have ‘MI attitude’

In the IPL 2017 final at Hyderabad, a Steve Smith-led RPS lost to Mumbai Indians by a run despite being tasked to chase just 130 runs for a win. The team also featured MS Dhoni, who led the franchise the previous year before being replaced by Smith.

Sanjiv Goenka claimed that RPS lost the final because of “lack of experience” in the team barring Smith and Dhoni. He said:

“You leave out Steve Smith and MS Dhoni, we didn't have much experience in the team. We were about to win the final, but due to our lack of experience, we lost. So making the right calls in those crunch moments is key.”

He also praised the Mumbai Indians franchise for their “habit of winning”, and urged the KL Rahul-led LSG team to instill that same “attitude” and confidence in themselves. Goenka added:

“Mumbai Indians have a habit of winning. Everyone should emulate their never-say-die attitude. It was Pune's match to win but they lost it by themselves because of the pressure applied by Mumbai. This attitude needs to be there in Lucknow. Otherwise, we would never win. We have to be confident in ourselves.”

Following Goenka’s IPL 2024 boundary confrontation with KL Rahul, several rumors indicated that the dashing wicketkeeper-batter might well be released by the LSG franchise for next year’s IPL 2025 season. However, he rubbished any exit rumors during a recent media event.