After Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) got hammered by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in an unbelievable run-chase pulled off by Hyderabad openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, Lucknow skipper
KL Rahul
found himself at the receiving end of another pounding, this time by the franchise's owner
Sanjiv Goenka
, whose angry and animated reaction while talking to Rahul near the LSG dugout was called 'disgusting' by fans on social media.
IPL 2024: Results | Points Table
Chasing LSG's below-par 165 for 4, Hyderabad openers launched an almost unreal attack on Lucknow bowlers to reach the target in a mere 9.4 overs and register a massive 10-wicket win. Hitting 14 sixes and 16 fours collectively, Head and Abhihsek smashed 89* off just 30 balls and 75* off only 28 balls, respectively.
Before being clueless against SRH's attack as a captain, Rahul had a forgettable outing as a batsman, scoring 29 off 33 balls. It was only because of Nicholas Pooran's 48* off 26 balls and Ayush Badoni's 55* off 30 that LSG could put up a competitive total on the board.
Scenes that unfolded on the sidelines after the match showed Rahul being reprimanded by the team's owner Goenka for the lackluster show.
WATCH VIDEO OF GOENKA'S HEATING EXCHANGE WITH RAHUL, WHO MAINTAINED HIS COOL
The defeat pushed LSG down to number six on the points table after their sixth defeat in 12 matches, thereby making the team's task of qualifying for the playoffs tougher. SRH moved up to number three with their seventh win in 12 matches.
As the video of Goenka having strong words with Rahul was being aired on live broadcast, the commentators on air said: "You always feel these conversations should always be behind closed doors. There are so many cameras that miss nothing, and KL Rahul is not going to go at press conferences and various other things and probably potentially explain what is being discussed there. He has done well here to keep his cool."
Soon after, fans started reacting strongly on social media, calling it 'open dressing room', 'in bad taste', 'totally unacceptable', and so on -- some even urging Rahul to 'leave LSG'.
Here are some of those reactions:
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