Virender Sehwag questioned the recent IPL controversy involving Lucknow Super Giants’ owner Sanjiv Goenka and captain KL Rahul, suggesting that owners should focus on motivating their teams.
The ongoing IPL 2024 season faced controversies as Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka engaged in a heated conversation with skipper KL Rahul following LSG’s significant loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Goenka’s animated exchange with Rahul, after SRH’s convincing victory by 10 wickets, stirred widespread criticism.
Fans and experts expressed disapproval of the incident, which highlighted tensions within the LSG camp. Former Indian cricketing great Virender Sehwag also chimed in, offering his perspective on the matter. Sehwag criticized Goenka’s behavior, saying team owners should focus on motivating players rather than questioning decisions or singling out individuals. He believes owners should inspire during meetings and press conferences, not interfere with team management or express frustration with players.
READ ALSO | WATCH | LSG Owner Sanjiv Goenka Holds Fiery Discussion with KL Rahul After Defeat to SRH
“The owner’s role should be that when they meet the players in the dressing room or during a press meet, they should only talk to motivate them. But if the owner comes and asks, ‘What is going on? What’s the problem?’ or gets hold of one of the team management members and starts to raise questions about a particular player…see the coaches and the captain run the team, so it is better for these owners not to get involved with players or get angry with me,” the former cricketer said on Cricbuzz.
“These are all businessmen. They only understand profit and loss. But here, there is no loss, so what’s bothering them? You are earning a 400-crore profit. I mean, this is a business where you have to do nothing at all. You have guys to take care of that, and irrespective of what happens, you are earning profit. So your work should only be to motivate the players,” Sehwag added.
LSG is in a tight race for a top-four spot against RCB, Gujarat Titans, and DC. But their poor net run rate might hurt their chances if CSK and SRH keep winning. With 6 wins in 12 matches and 12 points, more losses could dash LSG’s playoff hopes.
READ ALSO | Mohammad Shami Criticizes Sanjiv Goenka’s Public Outburst on KL Rahul: ‘A Matter of Shame’
Last Updated on May 13, 2024
Senior Sports Copywriter