Former South Africa captain turned cricket commentator Graeme Smith was surprised by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka publicly having a heated chat with skipper KL Rahul after the team's crushing defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad on Wednesday, May 8.
LSG suffered a humiliating 10-wicket defeat to SRH in their crucial match. After posting a total of 165/4, Lucknow Super Giants failed to defend their total as Sunrisers Hyderabad openers Travis Head (89*) and Abhishek Sharma (75*) chased down a 166-run in just 9.3 overs.
Head and Sharma unleashed their onslaughts on the LSG bowling attack as they formed a 167-run stand for the opening wicket.
After the LSG's drubbing by SRH, skipper KL Rahul met franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka, who was visibly disappointed with the team's performance. Sanjiv was seen furiously talking to Rahul, who was patiently listening to his boss. Sanjiv Goenka's behaviour received severe backlash from the netizens.
Reacting to the visuals of LSG owner Sanjiv Geonka's heated chat with skipper KL Rahul, Graeme Smith was of the opinion that owner is passionate about his team and thus, emotions got rolled over after the team was completely drubbed by SRH. He added that the conservations should have happened in private rather than in public view with cameras all around.
"It's the owner who is very passionate about his team. His team has taken an absolute drubbing and the emotions have rolled over. I feel these conversations should be happening behind closed doors. There are so many cameras around, they are not missing anything." Smith said on Star Sports.
"KL Rahul would now head to press conferences and potentially explain what's been discussed," he added.
Lucknow Super Giants' bowlers were clueless as the Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma didn't show any mercy towards them. Pacer Yash Thakur was thrashed the most as he leaked 47 runs without taking a wicket with an economy rate of 17.60 in 2.3 overs.
LSG's playoff qualification chances look slim after defeat vs SRH
With a defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Lucknow Super Giants' hopes of qualifying for the playoffs seemed to have dented as they slipped to sixth spot on the points table.
KL Rahul-led side suffered two consecutive defeats against Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Earlier, they were in the top 4 but now it looks like their playoffs qualification is difficult as Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals are expected to give stiff competition to LSG for the fourth place finish.
Lucknow Super Giants need to win their final matches of the league stage against Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians to make it to the knockout stage of the ongoing IPL season.
