It’s shameful: Mohammed Shami slams LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka’s reactions at KL Rahul after SRH loss

Goenka’s animated chat with Rahul was caught on camera after LSG were demolished by Sunrisers Hyderabad by 10 wickets and chased down a target of 166 in just 9.4 overs.

Hate and trolling turned a talented player into a rookie, but KL Rahul, the person, remains a gem. Your worth isn't defined by others; we love you. ❤️🤗 #KLRahul pic.twitter.com/LU1GsFo7PL

— Manoj Tiwari (@ManojTiwariIND) May 9, 2024

“It’s very important to note that players have respect, and you are a respectful person too, as an owner. It’s not that you’re talking suddenly,” Shami said.

“If you have to do that, there are many different ways. You could’ve done the same thing in the dressing room or the hotel. It wasn’t necessary to do it on the field. Aise reaction de ke koi lal quile pe jhanda toh gaad nahi diya aapne (you didn’t hoist a flag on Red Fort by doing what you did),” Shami said.

“He’s the captain, not a normal player. It’s a team game; it isn’t a big thing if the plan isn’t successful. Anything is possible in the game. I understand there can be good or bad days, but every player has respect, and there’s a way to talk. There are a lot of moments in the game when tempers flare up, and players quarrel with each other. It should not happen in cricket or any sport, but it does happen. A player talking to another player is different, but someone from the outside discussing something with the player is different. We are only speculating from what we are seeing, and only KL Rahul can tell what the conversation was about, but these kinds of reactions do not have any place in sports,” he added.

Meanwhile, there is disquiet in the LSG camp after the visuals did the rounds of social media following the team’s 10-wicket thrashing by SRH on Wednesday.

Speculation was rife about Rahul’s long-term future with the Lucknow franchise that is now placed sixth in the 10-team points table and has two more league matches to play this season.

A couple of members from the LSG travelling party said the owners questioned the team’s style of play and pointed out that the intent was missing. To make it worse, the heavy defeat shrunk LSG’s net run-rate and this meant that their fate in the tournament would now depend on the results of the other games.