India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has given his opinion on the controversial incident that unfolded between KL Rahul and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka after their team’s crushing 10-wicket loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2024.

After defeat, cameras captured a confrontation between Rahul and Goenka after the contest. Goenka, visibly upset, was seen scolding Rahul. The incident sparked widespread speculation and debate in the cricket community.

Pant acknowledged that heated exchanges between players and coaches are common after a team’s loss, though he was unsure of the specifics in this particular case. He also admitted that he often receives similar criticism, but handles it in his own way.

“While I didn’t witness the incident firsthand, the way it was portrayed left me uncertain about what exactly happened. When a match is lost, there are typically many discussions, but in this case, I’m not entirely sure of the details. Although I get reprimanded frequently, but I’m stubborn, I didn’t see the video in real-time, so I can’t provide a definitive answer,” remarked Pant.

LSG assistant coach Lance Klusener had downplayed any reports of discord between the two. Rumours circulated that Rahul might be released ahead of the upcoming IPL mega-auction, given LSG’s failure to reach the playoffs. However, these rumors were later quashed. Even if there was some truth to the rumors, the two appear to have reconciled. Goenka hosted a private dinner where he and Rahul hugged.

Lucknow Super Giants struggled in the 17th season, finishing seventh in the standings with 14 points – a marked decline from their consecutive playoff appearances in 2022 and 2023 under the mentorship of Gautam Gambhir. However, captain KL Rahul enjoyed another strong individual campaign, scoring 520 runs at an average of 37.14 with four half-centuries, even as the franchise’s overall performance suffered after Gambhir departed.