Dr. Sanjiv Goenka, the owner of the Lucknow Super Giants, is always known for his controversial moments since his involvement in the league. He has had some controversial moments over time, and whenever he makes one, it goes viral instantly. People nowadays wait for his content to pop up, making content out of it. From sacking MS Dhoni from captaincy to criticizing his team’s mindset, here are 5 controversial moments of Sanjiv Goenka in the IPL.
Removing MS Dhoni from Captaincy - RPS (2017)
This is where it all started. Sanjiv Goenka’s first involvement in the league was owning a Pune-based franchise named Rising Pune Supergiants, which was included temporarily for the 2016–2017 seasons. MS Dhoni was the inaugural captain of the team, and that was the first time MS Dhoni failed to lead his team to the playoffs. The next season, Goenka replaced him with Steve Smith as the team’s captain, which led to criticism and fans questioning his understanding of the game.
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Confronting KL Rahul with Cameras Around - LSG (2024)
Sanjiv Goenka was visibly frustrated with KL Rahul, who was LSG’s captain in 2024, in the match against SRH where LSG set a target of 160+ runs. In return, SRH chased the target down in just 10 overs at the Ekana Stadium, Lucknow. LSG was eliminated due to this quick chase, which left Sanjiv Goenka expressing his anger to his captain. This led to heavy backlash from the fans, questioning the integrity and ethics of the LSG owner.
Frustration Over Rishabh Pant’s Dismissal - LSG (2025)
Rishabh Pant, who has been under immense pressure this season, was dismissed cheaply in a must-win game against Sunrisers Hyderabad. This led to Sanjiv Goenka leaving the balcony visibly frustrated, which again became content for the media, focusing on Goenka.
Emotional Outburst After Elimination from Playoffs - LSG (2025)
Lucknow Super Giants failed to qualify for the playoffs for the second time in a row. This led to Sanjiv Goenka’s emotional post on social media, pointing out the team’s lack of performance in important moments and failed individual contributions when needed, which resulted in his team getting knocked out of the IPL 2025. Still, he urged his team to win the remaining matches for pride and to build for the next season.
Also Read: Watch Sanjiv Goenka's stirring message to the LSG team after crushing loss to PBKS
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Lack of Support for Rishabh Pant - LSG (2025)
Rishabh Pant, the record signing of IPL 2025, became the centre of attraction this season for underperforming as a captain and as a batter. This left their owner Sanjiv Goenka showing his frustration at various moments this season. Fans criticised him for his lack of support and for not backing Pant when needed. This season, Sanjiv Goenka was at the centre of controversy many times, leaving him at the receiving end from fans in IPL 2025
