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'Well Done': Sanjiv Goenka's 'Unusual' Motivation For LSG After First Loss Vs DC

Soumyajit Dutta

Rishabh Pant and Sanjiv Goenka [Source: @StarcKKR/X]Rishabh Pant and Sanjiv Goenka [Source: @StarcKKR/X]

Lucknow Super Giants’ IPL 2025 campaign began on a bitter note as Delhi Capitals snatched a last-gasp victory in Visakhapatnam, despite LSG reducing them to 113/6 in a 210-run chase. Ashutosh Sharma’s unbeaten run, including a flurry of boundaries in the final overs, left the home crowd stunned.

New captain Rishabh Pant endured a forgettable debut, registering a six-ball duck and facing criticism for questionable tactical decisions, including underutilizing Shardul Thakur and costly bowling choices in the death overs.

Goenka Motivates LSG With Enthu Even After Loss!

LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka, who splurged INR 27 crore to acquire Pant at the mega auction, was seen in a post-match huddle with the skipper and coach Justin Langer. While the interaction lacked the intensity of his infamous 2024 exchange with KL Rahul, it served as a quiet reminder for Pant to regroup quickly.

Reflecting on the match, Goenka emphasized optimism as seen in a video released by Lucknow Super Giants' official social media handle.

"Lots of positives that I take away from this game in batting [and] bowling. The way we had the powerplay in both batting and bowling was brilliant. These things happen. We are a young team. Let's look at the positives and look forward from tomorrow to the 27th. And hopefully, we'll have a better result. Disappointing result tonight, yes. But great game. So well done!"

Notably, in the match, Pant’s struggles extended beyond his batting. His captaincy drew scrutiny, particularly his decision to hand the penultimate over to rookie Prince Yadav instead of Thakur, who had earlier taken two wickets in his first over. 

Yadav conceded 16 runs, leaving DC needing just six off the final over. Pant’s missed stumping of Mohit Sharma in the last over, a chance created by Shahbaz Ahmed’s sharp spin, further compounded LSG’s misery.

Pant Blames Luck!

"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 cricket; you can't focus on these things, but rather you need to play better cricket," Pant admitted post-match.

With Goenka urging the team to channel their energy into upcoming fixtures, LSG will aim to address their death-overs execution and leadership decisions. As Pant seeks redemption, the franchise hopes its mix of youth and experience can turn potential into consistency.