Former Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) spinner Amit Mishra has stood up for team owner Sanjiv Goenka, who faced backlash last year for publicly confronting KL Rahul, the team’s captain at the time. The incident occurred after LSG gave away 160 runs in just 10 overs against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2024 IPL season. Although no one knows exactly what was said, many fans and experts felt Goenka had crossed the line by interfering too much.

Fallout Led to Big Changes

That moment eventually caused a rift between Goenka and Rahul. After the season ended, LSG chose to release Rahul and later signed Rishabh Pant for a hefty ₹27 crore in the IPL 2035 mega auction, aiming to find a new leader. Meanwhile, Delhi Capitals (DC) picked up Rahul for ₹14 crore. After the deal, DC co-owner Parth Jindal commented that Rahul was looking for “love and respect” from his new team, which added to the ongoing controversy.

Mishra Says Media Exaggerated the Incident

Now, Amit Mishra, who played for LSG previously, has defended Goenka. The 42-year-old believes the media overhyped the situation. According to him, Goenka didn’t speak harshly to Rahul but only encouraged the team to fight harder. “I feel that the media has shown off a little too much. I didn’t feel that there was anything like that. But this time, I feel that the overall discussion is going on. It is not like that at all,” Mishra told Cricbuzz.

He explained the team was in poor form, having suffered heavy losses in Kolkata and then again in Hyderabad, losing matches in 11 and 9 overs respectively. “So, if there is any owner, he says that losing is okay, but just go out there and show some fight. Fight and lose, I have no problem. This is what people told me. This is what happened,” he added. “But I feel that even after losing so badly, we lost two matches more. He came to the dressing room. The owner gives motivation to the team. He never said anything wrong or said anything in a very high tone.”

Leadership Style Has Changed in 2025 Season

Mishra also highlighted that the decision-making process at LSG has changed this season. Last year, Rahul had full control, making all major decisions like team selection and game plans on his own. “I spoke to the coach last season, and he told me that KL Rahul is doing all the work. He is making the 11s, making all the changes, and planning,” Mishra said.

However, this year, there’s more team consultation. He noted that since Zaheer Khan joined, discussions among coaching staff and management have become more regular. “But this year, I don’t feel like that. This year, when Zaheer Khan has gone, I feel like he is talking to everyone. If you see, there is a discussion going on, they are talking to each other,” he explained.

He also shared how head coach Justin Langer was seen having a discussion with Digvesh Rathi on the field before the match against Mumbai Indians, showing improved communication. “I saw the coach Justin Langer on the pitch before the match against Mumbai Indians. He was speaking to Digvesh Rathi. So, I feel that the discussion is going well overall. I don’t feel he is very involved if you talk about the owner. Yes, he definitely wants to win. But he always stays positive when coming to the dressing room,” Mishra said.

LSG's Current Form and Challenges

As of now, LSG sit sixth in the IPL 2025 points table, with five wins and five losses. One of their major concerns is Rishabh Pant's poor form, as the new captain has scored just 110 runs in 10 matches. Their next game is scheduled against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Sunday.