Following Lucknow Super Giants' (LSG) crushing defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), a heated exchange between skipper KL Rahul and team owner Sanjiv Goenka sparked discussion amongst fans and former cricketers. This came after SRH openers, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, chased down LSG's target of 166 runs in a mere 9.4 overs with an explosive batting display. Upset by the loss, Goenka was seemingly caught on camera having a heated conversation with Rahul after the match, which quickly went viral on social media.
Many fans criticised Goenka's approach, suggesting a private discussion would have been more appropriate. Former IPL franchise officials, Mike Hesson and Graeme Smith, shared similar sentiments during the live broadcast. Hesson acknowledged Goenka's frustration but expressed surprise at the public nature of the exchange. He further highlighted the significant difference in quality between the two teams. While Head and Abhishek played with a strike rate exceeding 250, Rahul's knock of 29 runs off 31 balls reflected LSG's conservative approach, which ultimately contributed to their heavy defeat.
“He's on his head, isn't he? He's voicing his concerns, and KL is going, 'hang on, not quite sure what are you asking us to do'. Today was pretty clear: SRH were on from ball one in the field, and LSG were a bit conservative in terms of how they operate. If you compare that with how Sunrisers play, no doubt there was a distinct gap. He's voicing his displeasure,” Hesson told JioCinema.
While acknowledging Sanjiv Goenka's passion for the team, Graeme Smith questioned the choice of having a public conversation with KL Rahul. Smith emphasised the importance of choosing the right time and place for such discussions. He also expressed sympathy for Rahul, recognizing the awkwardness he might face when fielding questions about the interaction with the owner.
“It's the owner who is very passionate about his team. His team has taken an absolute drubbing, and the emotions have rolled over. You feel these conversations should be happening behind closed doors. There are so many cameras around; they're not missing anything. KL Rahul would now go to press conferences and other things and potentially explain what's been discussed,” said Smith.
While the heavy defeat to SRH certainly puts a dent in Lucknow Super Giants' playoff hopes, they're not mathematically eliminated yet. Currently sitting in sixth place with 12 points after 12 games, they still have a shot at reaching the top four. However, consecutive big losses have taken a toll on their net run rate, which now sits at a worrying -0.371. Their remaining matches against Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians are crucial. Securing big wins in both encounters is essential to avoid getting knocked out due to net run rate. However, one more loss will definitively end their IPL 2024 campaign.
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