NEW DELHI: Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka broke his silence on the exit of KL Rahul from the franchise, saying the batter will always be family for him and he is a very honest and decent person.
Rahul was acquired by Delhi Capitals for Rs 14 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction after LSH decided not to retain their captain who led the franchise for three seasons.
“KL Rahul has always been family for me and he will remain that way. He captained Lucknow for three years and have shown great results during his tenure. I genuinely wish for his success, no matter what happens,” Goenka said on the TRS podcast.
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Goenka expressed his hope that Rahul’s talent continues to shine on the global stage. “Shareef insaan hai (He is a good person),” he said.
“He is a very honest and decent person and I wish that everything good happens to an honest person like him. He is also very talented and I wish he displays his talent to the world. I am very sure he will do well. My best wishes are with him.”
Goenka’s comments come after signs of a strained relationship with Rahul towards the end of the 2024 season.
The controversy stemmed from a post-match discussion between Goenka and Rahul after LSG’s crushing 10-wicket loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2024. Cameras captured an intense exchange between the two, sparking heated debates on social media.
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After LSG announced their retentions, Goenka made it clear that the team has retained players “who put the team first before their personal goals”.
“It was a simple mindset to go in with players who have a mindset to win, who put the team first before their personal goals and personal aspirations and we wanted to retain as much as of core we could,” he had said.
During an interview with Star Sports, Rahul also addressed the incident, acknowledging that it was an uncomfortable moment that had an impact on the entire team.
“Whatever happened on the field after the game wasn’t the nicest thing to be part of or something that anyone wants to see on the cricket field. I wanted a fresh start, to explore my options, and to play where I could find some freedom. Sometimes you need to move away to find something good for yourself.”
