Sanjiv Goenka's resigned look after Rishabh Pant's bizarre dismissal as merciless fans call for 'sacking' of LSG captain

By Admin

05 May, 2025

The pressure is mounting in the IPL 2025 season, and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are finding themselves on the edge of elimination after a demoralizing 37-run defeat at the hands of Punjab Kings at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. With playoff hopes hanging by a thread, LSG fans and management alike are showing signs of frustration — none more telling than the expression of team owner Sanjiv Goenka following yet another underwhelming performance by captain Rishabh Pant.

Pant’s batting woes continued on Sunday, as he was dismissed for a lackluster 18 off 17 deliveries. Unlike his previous appearances, Pant came in at No. 4 hoping to steady the innings, but his comical dismissal in the 8th over added salt to LSG's wounds. Attempting to take on Azmatullah Omarzai, Pant charged down the track, lost control of his bat — which flew towards square leg — while the ball was safely caught by Shashank Singh at sweeper cover. The scene, both bizarre and unfortunate, summed up LSG’s night.

As Pant trudged back to the pavilion, visibly disappointed and mouthing his frustration to the skies, the camera panned to Sanjiv Goenka — whose expression said it all. A mix of resignation, helplessness, and silent fury, the LSG owner appeared visibly dejected, particularly after having already witnessed the early exit of Nicholas Pooran during the powerplay.

Fans, never ones to mince words, took to social media in droves, calling for Pant to be sacked as captain. Hashtags like #SackPant and #LSGDownfall started trending on X (formerly Twitter) as angry supporters questioned the leadership and strategy behind LSG’s campaign.

With the playoff dreams now dangling by a thread, LSG must regroup quickly and rethink their leadership and batting approach. Whether the franchise chooses to make drastic changes remains to be seen, but one thing is clear — patience is running out, both in the dressing room and in the owner’s box.