LSG’s four-match slump deepens as Goenka shows a human side

Lucknow Super Giants’ IPL 2026 campaign is teetering on the edge of collapse. After a brief two-match winning run that offered early hope, Rishabh Pant’s side have now lost four consecutive matches, the latest being a 40-run home defeat to Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday. LSG, bowled out for just 119 chasing 160, now sit ninth in the standings with only two wins from seven outings.

A moment of empathy from the owner

LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka has earned a reputation for intense post-match touchlines conversations with his captains. But after Wednesday’s defeat, the mood was noticeably different. Pant had taken a painful blow to the nose while collecting a throw in the 11th over of RR’s innings, briefly halting play as he received medical attention. Following the final whistle, Goenka was captured on social media personally checking in on his captain — a moment that showed genuine concern beyond tactics and results. It was a reminder that behind the pressure-cooker world of franchise cricket, there is still room for human connection.

Playoff hopes fading fast