Sanjiv Goenka Catches Rishabh Pant, Recreates KL Rahul Scene

At Ekana Stadium Lucknow, K L Rahul scene recreates on Tuesday, April 1. Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka was seen having an intense discussion with captain Rishabh Pant after the defeat against Punjab Kings (PBKS). Being put in to bat first, LSG were restricted to 171/7 in their allotted 20 overs. In reply, Punjab Kings chased down the target comfortably in just 16.2 overs, winning the game by eight wickets.

Following their second defeat of the season, at the hands of Punjab Kings, the franchise's owner Sanjiv Goenka had an intense chat with Rishabh Pant again on the field. Goenka has developed a reputation for asking questions to his team's captains. Last year KL Rahul had to face Goenka's wrath on the field over the team's crushing defeats against SRH. Pant was subjected to a similar meeting after LSG's defeat against Delhi Capitals in their opening match of this season.

Lucknow then bounced back with a victory against the Sunrisers Hyderabad but slumped to a defeat against Punjab on Tuesday. Goenka didn't shy away from speaking with Pant again on the ground, triggering a social media storm. The LSG owner was even seen pointing finger at Pant during the conversation. However, they were smiling too.

After the game, Rishabh Pant admitted that his team was about 20-25 runs short against Punjab. "It (the total) wasn't enough, we were 20-25 runs short, but that's part and parcel of the game. It's always going to be difficult to get a big total when you lose early wickets, but each and every player is trying hard to take the game forward. We got to learn from this game and move forward. There are a lot of positives, can't say much," he said in the post-match presentation ceremony.

Whatever Pant said to console himself and his teammates, the fact is that the sum of Rs 27 crore that LSG spent on him isn't looking good at the moment. The wicket-keeper batter has hardly gotten his bat to do the talking in the first three games for the franchise. Even his captaincy decisions have been questioned by many, with fans on social media already putting the label of a "Rs 27 crore flop" on him.