Lucknow Super Giants were on course to secure a victory against Delhi Capitals in their opening match of IPL 2025 on Monday. However, Ashutosh Sharma snatched victory from their grasp, guiding Delhi Capitals to a successful chase of 210 runs in Visakhapatnam. The two points that seemed to belong to Lucknow for most of the match ultimately went to Delhi.
Following Lucknow’s defeat, franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka was seen on the field speaking with captain Rishabh Pant. Several videos and images of their conversation have gone viral on social media. In the footage, Pant appears to be explaining something to Goenka, whose body language suggests he was not pleased with the team’s performance.
Rishabh Pant’s Forgettable First Match
Lucknow Super Giants acquired Rishabh Pant for ₹27 crore, making him the most expensive player in IPL history. However, his first match for the franchise was one he would rather forget. Pant was dismissed for a duck after facing just six deliveries, and he also made some errors in captaincy.
Not the First Time
This was not the first instance of Sanjiv Goenka confronting his team’s captain after a loss. A similar incident occurred last season with KL Rahul. Back then, Lucknow suffered a crushing 10-wicket defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad, jeopardizing their playoff chances. Goenka did not appear to be particularly polite to Rahul, one of world cricket’s biggest stars.
KL Rahul Scolded Publicly
Following that match, KL Rahul, drenched in sweat and holding his helmet strap, stood uncomfortably as an evidently frustrated Goenka spoke to him. The billionaire chairman of the RPSG Group, who had spent a record ₹7,090 crore to acquire the franchise, gestured repeatedly while talking. Rahul attempted to respond but soon gave up, lowering his head and staring at his helmet. The incident created significant controversy. Eventually, Lucknow Super Giants released KL Rahul ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, and he is now part of Delhi Capitals.
Public Anger on the Field is Disrespectful
The IPL has set guidelines for franchise owners on how to manage their teams and revenue sharing. However, there are no explicit rules governing how they should interact with players. It is only expected that they maintain professionalism. While franchise owners have the right to feel disappointed with a player’s performance, expressing anger directly on the field during a match is considered unprofessional and inappropriate. IPL is a professional league, and maintaining decorum in owner-player interactions is crucial. Publicly displaying frustration can demoralize players and damage the team’s image.
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Private Discussions are Acceptable
Franchise owners primarily handle the business and strategic aspects of the team, while coaching and player management are the responsibilities of coaches and captains. Owners can discuss concerns privately with players after matches or during team meetings. They can also express their support through applause or positive gestures. While owners often react emotionally from their private boxes, engaging with players on the field in a negative manner can create a toxic environment and affect performance. Since emotions run high during IPL matches, public anger from owners is generally frowned upon.
Undervaluing Cricket Stars is Wrong
Incidents like those involving Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul are concerning. Such conversations should take place behind closed doors, not in front of cameras in a packed stadium. While coaches can reprimand players on the field and rivals can engage in on-field battles, a non-cricketer owner publicly scolding an Indian cricket star is unacceptable. IPL franchise owners must realize they cannot undervalue the stars who draw fans to stadiums. These players are the reason IPL gains global attention.
Business Rules Don’t Apply to Sports
Franchise owners may control the teams, but they are not team members. They may be corporate leaders and industry giants, but in the world of cricket, they are just background figures for fans. For decades, cricketers have been symbols of national pride in India, and they cannot be publicly humiliated in front of their fans. The IPL auction process might give owners a false sense of control over players, making them view teams as just another business investment. However, sports do not operate under conventional business principles, nor do they provide predictable financial returns. A captain should never be treated like an incompetent floor manager.
Learning from Football and Basketball
T20 cricket aspires to establish itself in the American pro-sports market and has already been included in the Olympics. However, for this ambition to be realized, the league must avoid belittling its biggest stars. IPL, despite being only 17 years old, is often compared to much older and grander global sports leagues where superstar athletes play for wealthier franchise owners.
India’s cricket ecosystem can take inspiration from football in Europe and basketball in the US, where team owners respect the sanctity of the dugout. The on-field drama of T20 cricket is already enough—there is no need for additional theatrics resembling reality TV.
