Sanjiv Goenka reveals warm relationship with Rishabh Pant after LSG exit

Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka has broken his silence on Rishabh Pant’s departure, insisting their relationship remains warm despite the wicketkeeper-batter leaving the franchise after only two IPL seasons.

LSG made Pant the most expensive player in IPL history at the time by paying ₹27.4 crore for him at the 2025 mega auction. The move, however, failed to deliver the expected results. The franchise finished seventh in 2025 before slipping to 10th in 2026, while Pant scored 581 runs in 28 matches across the two seasons.

After IPL 2026, LSG confirmed that Pant and the franchise had mutually agreed to end their association. The early conclusion of the record-breaking deal prompted questions over the size of the investment and speculation about friction between the player and Goenka.

Goenka rejects lasting-rift speculation

Speaking on the Shubhankar Mishra podcast, Goenka said his communication with Pant continued after the contract ended and revealed that they plan to meet for dinner.

“I said good luck and best wishes, but our last conversation wasn’t only till the contract. We even spoke after that. We have planned to have dinner together sometime. I’m very fond of Rishabh. He has innocence. We will jump out of anywhere and grab you. He will play a prank or something,” Goenka said.

The comments come after tense visuals involving Goenka and Pant following one match led to comparisons with Goenka’s widely discussed on-field exchange with former LSG captain KL Rahul. Goenka rejected the suggestion that he had a poor relationship with Pant, saying, “People said a lot of things.”

Record fee judged by results

Goenka said the value of a major auction purchase is ultimately determined by performance and circumstances. He cited LSG’s earlier decision to pay ₹15 crore for Ben Stokes as another example of a deal that could look expensive or worthwhile depending on the outcome.

“It’s all very subjective and situation-based. When we paid ₹15 crore for Ben Stokes, it was considered expensive. Was it worth it or not? If you succeed, it pays off. If not, it doesn’t. Rishabh Pant obviously packs a punch,” he said.

Pant subsequently returned to Delhi Capitals for ₹12 crore, taking a substantial pay cut from the ₹27.4 crore LSG paid for him. LSG used the vacancy to bring India wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav into the squad as Pant’s replacement.