Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka said he had laughed off rumors suggesting Rishabh Pant was leaving the Indian Premier League franchise after just one season, backing his captain to achieve in the 2026 campaign. Speaking to India Today’s sister channel, SportsTak, Goenka said he had become a popular punching bag on social media during the IPL.
Rishabh Pant was under immense pressure in IPL 2025. He played 14 matches and managed just 269 runs – his worst season with the bat since 2017. Pant’s captaincy also came under scrutiny as LSG finished seventh in the 10-team competition and struggled to cope with injury problems, particularly in their bowling unit.
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Pant was bought for Rs 27 crore in the mega auction ahead of the 2025 season, making him the most expensive player in the history of the tournament. However, the pressure of the price tag coupled with an injury-hit dressing room did not help his cause during the campaign.
Also read: Lucknow Super Giants called to help accommodate Rishabh Pant in IPL 2026
“What does any captain do when he doesn’t have four fast bowlers? You have to look at it from what he had. I personally have a lot of faith in Rishabh Pant. I know you (media) keep speculating whether Rishabh will stay in LSG or not. I look at all this and just laugh. I think some social media sites need views. Sanjiv Goenka is becoming a very happy and comfortable punching bag,” said Sanjiv Goenka.
‘I’M A DUMPING BAG’
Goenka, meanwhile, admitted that the Super Giants made a lot of mistakes in the 2025 season, which saw them finish outside the top four for the second consecutive year.
“100 percent (aware of social media memes). But I don’t spend much time on social media. I understand 5-10 percent of social media, so I don’t know what’s the reason. But Sanjiv Goenka is a punching bag.”
“I live with my conscience, I’m a very secure person in my own skin. When I make a mistake, I openly admit that I made a mistake. Last year we didn’t even have a team that could fight for the trophy. We made a lot of mistakes, we made mistakes in the auction, mistakes in the preparation,” he said.
Pant, who missed the T20 World Cup campaign, soon joined the Lucknow Super Giants training camp. After the session in Chennai, LSG worked hard on their pre-season training in Lucknow.
“This year we tried to correct those mistakes. We realized the comfort a balanced team provides,” he said.
While Rishabh Pant will be keen to make a statement with the bat, LSG seem to have a fit and executing squad for the 2026 season. Express pacer Mayank Yadav is nearing full fitness while Mohsin Khan and Avesh Khan are also options.
LSG also bought Anrich Nortje, the South African express pacer, for 2 million rupees and Australian wicketkeeper Josh Inglis for 8 million rupees.
“People say R8 million for Josh Inglis is crazy. I think so (it’s a steal).
“Would you take Pathirana for Rs 18 crore or Nortje for Rs 2 crore? If you take Nortje for Rs 2 crore, I have the freedom to take Inglis,” Goenka said.
LSG will begin their campaign at home against Delhi Capitals on Wednesday, April 1.
LSG SQUAD FOR IPL 2026
Abdul Samad, Ayush Badoni, Aiden Markram, Matthew Breetzke, Himmat Singh, Rishabh Pant (c), Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Arshin Kulkarni, Mayank Yadav, Avesh Khan, Mohsin Khan, Manimaran Siddharth., Akash Yahdav, S. Digves Traded for: Mohammed Shami (from SRH), Arjun Tendulkar (from MI).
PLAYERS PURCHASED AT AUCTION
Josh Inglis (8.60 cr), Mukul Choudhary (2.60 cr), Akshat Raghuwanshi (2.20 cr), Anrich Nortje (2 cr), Wanindu Hasaranga (2 cr), Naman Tiwari (1 cr).
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Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
March 22, 2026 5:19 PM IST
