“It's the owner's decision… they spend the money,” Ravi Shastri's comments on the Mumbai Indians captaincy seem more profound today, after what unfolded on Indian national television on Wednesday evening. Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka verbally bashes his IPL team's skipper KL Rahul following a 10-wicket thrashing at the hands of SunRisers Hyderabad, a scene that has been replayed over and over ever since. It was the biggest defeat in IPL history as SRH chased down a target of 166 runs in just 58 balls. With 62 balls left in the innings, this is the most dominant win in IPL, in terms of balls remaining (over 100 targets). Naturally, Goenka, a very successful industrialist and also co-owner of ISL runner-up Mohun Bagan Super Giant, was not a happy man.
In 2021, Goenka had bid over Rs 7,000 crore to buy the LSG franchise in IPL. According to various reports, Goenka will pay BCCI a franchise of Rs 7,090 crore over a period of ten years. Now that he is ready to spend such a large amount of money, the attachment that Goenka has with the team is very evident. His franchise has also done well in the past, reaching the play-offs in the first two years under the captaincy of KL Rahul.
This year, however, things seemed to be different. While play-off hopes are not lost, LSG are in a tough spot. The team is sixth out of ten teams.
Their 10-wicket thrashing against SRH has added to the misery. And it seemed like it was too much for Goenka to handle. Throughout the match, Goenka was able to follow the match closely. After the loss, however, emotion seemed to get the upper hand. Even the broadcaster couldn't help but call the interaction between Goenka and Rahul an 'animated response from the LSG camp'. Even LSG coach and great Australian Justin Langer was not spared either, as Goenka also seemed to lend him a listening ear.
All the while, Rahul and Langer remained calm and took it all in. Rarely has such a scene been broadcast on national television. But can readers confirm that such incidents do not happen every day in boardrooms and corporate houses? Doesn't this 'win at all costs' mentality play out every day in every workplace?
Recently, two videos went viral on A few months ago, a similar incident took place at another bank and the foul-mouthed official was suspended.
Goenka's case gained more attention as he is a celebrated name. Moreover, he may have forgotten that with the abundance of cameras on the ground, nothing remains hidden. He has every right to feel bad about his team's loss, but to express his frustration with his captaincy on cricket matters, for which he has hired specialist support staff, was that the right decision?
Moreover, for every serious discussion there is such a thing as a 'closed door meeting', something that the official broadcaster has also mentioned.
Perhaps he could have taken an example from the way Kolkata Knight Rides co-owner Shah Rukh Khan reacted after his side's loss to Rajasthan Royals. In a video, which went viral, SRK said, “Honestly, it is a very proud day. The way we played; all of us. I won't mention individual names; that happened. Don't feel down, GG. We will all bounce back. It's God's plan for today, as Rinku says, I think this is what we would like them to do. We'll come back with more and better, God willing. Thank you all, and may God bless everyone.”
Should other owners follow SRK's line? It's completely up to them, ultimately they “spend the money” in a cash-rich private league – IPL.
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