Sanjiv Goenka holds KL Rahul in high regard, considering him almost like family. However, he remains tight-lipped about whether the India wicketkeeper-batter will be retained for the next three IPL seasons. “As far as I am concerned, I treat him as part of my family. He knows that too,” Goenka told Cricbuzz in an exclusive interview on Wednesday, reports Live Cricket Score.
Rahul has captained the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for three years. Still, their relationship has been the subject of much speculation, especially after a public exchange following a heavy 10-wicket defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad last season.
“He’s been with us since the inception of Lucknow Super Giants and has led us for three years. I have said before, and I’ll repeat it: KL wants to win. He is an important part of the Super Giants family. As far as retention is concerned, I don’t know. I won’t discuss that now—it has to remain confidential. We have three months to decide on this.”
There has been widespread debate on whether Rahul will continue as captain. When asked directly, Goenka responded with a quip: “What is your opinion?” He declined to give a definitive answer.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to announce a policy on player retention soon after discussions with IPL franchise owners. When asked about LSG’s stance, Goenka kept his cards close to his chest. “We don’t even know what the retention policy will be. Once the BCCI announces it, we’ll have three months to decide. It’s too early to make any decisions right now,” he said. However, he did express support for the continuation of the mega-auction, stating, “Yes, it should be there.”
Goenka, alongside new team mentor Zaheer Khan, outlined his expectations. “We want to make winning a habit. For Zaheer, winning has always been a way of life, both during his playing career and afterwards. That’s what we hope to achieve. When I learned he was no longer with Mumbai Indians, I approached him immediately. It was as simple as that.”
Zaheer replaces Gautam Gambhir, who mentored LSG during the first two seasons, guiding them to the playoffs. However, the team failed to reach the last-four stage in the third season, which Goenka attributed to the absence of a mentor.
“We all learn from our mistakes. It’s not just about strategic guidance but also providing players the confidence to express themselves freely and clearly. I think that’s where we fell short last year. We lost crucial games against Hyderabad, Delhi, and Gujarat—matches we should have won. But we have no one to blame but ourselves. We’re here to improve, and while you can’t win every game or every year, as long as we maintain a winning attitude and learn from our losses, I’m satisfied.”
Goenka, who purchased the LSG franchise for INR 7090 crore in 2022, making it the costliest team in the IPL, has no regrets about the investment. “I’m thrilled, delighted, and excited. I see the valuations going up. We need to improve our performance.”
