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.
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.
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."
The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the ...
Read MoreThe TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide.
From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more.
The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics.
We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects.
We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.
Read Less