Video footage captured LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka expressing frustration towards KL Rahul following the team's defeat against SRH.
Sanjiv Goenka, the owner of the Lucknow Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, voiced his frustration during a tense conversation with captain KL Rahul following Lucknow Super Giants' (LSG) significant defeat to SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in a crucial IPL 2024 match on Wednesday, May 8. The incident, occurring along the boundary rope shortly after LSG's 10-wicket loss at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, swiftly circulated across social media platforms.
The palpable disappointment within the Lucknow camp was unmistakable, as Goenka, Rahul, and their teammates displayed visible dejection following the setback, which dealt a significant blow to their chances of securing a spot in the IPL 2024 playoffs. Despite arriving in Hyderabad with optimism of maintaining their undefeated record against former champions SunRisers, Lucknow Super Giants stumbled against a resurgent SRH side. Despite posting a modest 165 runs, the Super Giants could only watch as SunRisers chased down the target in just 9.4 overs, setting a new T20 record in the process.
The defeat saw Lucknow Super Giants slide to the sixth position in the points table, with their net run rate taking a substantial hit. With 12 points from as many games, Lucknow now finds themselves two points adrift of the third-placed SunRisers.
KL Rahul bore the brunt of criticism for his cautious approach on the field. Despite winning the toss and opting to bat first, Lucknow's lacklustre performance in the powerplay proved costly. Managing a mere 27 runs and losing two wickets during this crucial phase, the Super Giants struggled to match SunRisers' explosive start, with Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head dominating the powerplay.
While Rahul's innings of 29 runs off 33 balls came under scrutiny, contributions from Ayush Badoni and Nicholas Pooran enabled Lucknow to post a respectable total of 165. However, SunRisers' openers, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, exhibited a masterclass in big-hitting, propelling their side to victory with a record-breaking opening partnership of 167 runs.
In the aftermath of the defeat, Rahul, echoing the sentiments of cricket enthusiasts worldwide, lauded the exceptional batting display by Head and Sharma. "I am lost for words," he said while talking to the broadcasters after the one-sided contest.
"We have watched that kind of batting on TV. But this is unreal batting. Everything seemed to find the middle of the bat. Kudos to their skills. They have worked hard on their six-hitting skills. They didn't give us a chance to know what the pitch played in the second innings," he added.
As Lucknow Super Giants regroup for their upcoming fixtures, they will be aiming to rediscover their winning form when they face Delhi at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on May 14, followed by a crucial encounter against Mumbai on May 17. Rahul and LSG have a proud record to maintain, as the Lucknow-based franchise has never failed to make the playoffs in their nascent IPL history.
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