Cricket

Indian billionaires Sanjiv Goenka and Mukesh Ambani have made significant bids for multiple franchises in the Hundred, a 100-ball cricket tournament in England and Wales. The ECB is selling 49% stakes in each team to investors, with the first round of bidding concluding last Friday.Goenka, the founder of RPSG Group, already owns the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL and the Durban Super Giants in the SA20. He is believed to have bid for several Hundred teams, expanding his cricket portfolio.Ambani, through his Reliance Industries, owns the Mumbai Indians in the IPL and three other T20 teams. If successful, he could potentially rename the London Spirit franchise to MI London.Other notable bidders include the Glazer siblings, owners of Manchester United, and Jonathan Goldstein, director of Chelsea Football Club.The first-round valuation of the eight Hundred teams is estimated at £500 million. The proceeds from the sale will be invested in the recreational and professional cricket ecosystem in the UK.Team owners will receive a share of central revenues, including broadcast rights and sponsorship. The ECB has declined to confirm the names of interested parties or the value of bids, but has expressed enthusiasm for the level of interest.The Ambani group has not responded to requests for comment, while the RPSG group declined to comment. Decisions on successful bidders will be announced in 2025.

Lucknow Super Giants Owner's Outburst: Rishabh Pant Weighs InOver a month after Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka's angry outburst at skipper KL Rahul, Delhi Capitals (DC) captain Rishabh Pant has shared his perspective on the incident.Goenka's outburst, captured on camera, occurred after LSG suffered a humiliating defeat to SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in a crucial match. SRH chased down a 166-run target in just 58 balls, marking the biggest loss in IPL history in terms of balls to spare.Pant, while acknowledging that he was unaware of the specific details of the exchange between Goenka and Rahul, emphasized that such conversations are common after heavy losses. He also revealed that he has experienced similar exchanges but handles them in his own way."I actually didn't understand what happened in that situation. It seemed so by looking at it, and although I'm not sure what happened, there was something there. When you lose a match, there are obviously a lot of conversations. But the way it was portrayed, I'm not sure. I didn't see the video in real-time; otherwise, I would have given you an answer. I get scolded every day, but I'm also stubborn," Pant said on 'Aap ki Adalat' on India TV.Goenka's attachment to LSG is evident, having bid over Rs 7000 crore to acquire the franchise in 2021. Under Rahul's captaincy, LSG reached the playoffs in its first two years. However, this year, the team finished outside the top four.The franchise underwent a significant management change, with Justin Langer replacing Andy Flower as head coach. Despite these changes, LSG failed to replicate its previous success.Pant's comments highlight the pressure and scrutiny that team owners and captains face in the high-stakes environment of the IPL. While such exchanges may be common, they underscore the importance of maintaining professionalism and finding constructive ways to address team performance.

Lucknow Super Giants' (LSG) hopes of reaching the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoffs have dwindled after their defeat to Delhi Capitals. With just one game remaining, LSG's fate is no longer in their own hands.LSG's poor run-rate has been a major factor in their struggles. After their 10-wicket loss to SunRisers Hyderabad, their run-rate plummeted to -0.769. Following their defeat to DC, it has further deteriorated to -0.787. This is the worst run-rate among the four teams vying for the fourth playoff spot.The team's recent performances have also been marred by controversy. LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka's animated discussion with captain KL Rahul after their loss to SunRisers Hyderabad was caught on camera, leading to widespread criticism.Despite their struggles, LSG still have a mathematical chance of reaching the playoffs. However, they would need to win their last match by a significant margin and hope that two of CSK, SRH, and RCB lose their games by equally large margins.If LSG fails to qualify for the playoffs, it is likely that Rahul will leave the franchise. Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bangalore are considered the frontrunners to acquire his services.

The recent incident involving Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka and skipper KL Rahul has sparked widespread discussion. After LSG's 10-wicket loss to SunRisers Hyderabad, Goenka was seen having an animated conversation with Rahul and coach Justin Langer. The incident went viral on social media, with many criticizing Goenka's behavior.However, Langer has now shed light on the situation, revealing that the discussion was solely about the team's performance. "I was so surprised by the reaction," Langer said. "It was just about where our plan went wrong in the game, and it went wrong."Langer emphasized that both Goenka and Rahul are known for their calm demeanor, and the conversation was not as heated as it appeared. "When I saw there were some arms going about, I thought, 'Woah, I have never seen this before,'" Langer said. "But when I listened to the conversation, it was just about cricket talk."Despite the incident, Rahul remains the captain of LSG and led the team in their match against Delhi Capitals on Tuesday. Before the match, an image of Goenka hugging Rahul went viral, indicating that the situation has been resolved.The incident has raised questions about the role of owners in sports teams and the pressure they can put on players and coaches. However, Langer believes that the relationship between Goenka, Rahul, and himself is strong. "We are just laughing about it," Langer said. "It has been such an awesome relationship."

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) assistant coach Lance Klusener has downplayed the recent public outburst by team owner Sanjiv Goenka towards skipper KL Rahul, describing it as a "storm in a teacup." Klusener emphasized that he sees no issue with "robust discussions between two cricket lovers."Despite speculations about Rahul's future as LSG captain, Klusener stated that there have been "certainly no discussions around" the matter. He defended Rahul's performance, acknowledging that the IPL has been challenging for the opener due to the team's inconsistent batting."KL has got his own unique style which has made him a fantastic player," Klusener said. "This IPL has been exceptionally tough for him because we've kept losing wickets at stages which hasn't allowed him to kick on where he likes."Klusener expressed confidence that Rahul is capable of a big knock and that the team is supporting him. He also acknowledged that the bowling unit underperformed in their recent loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad, but attributed it to a combination of exceptional batting and poor execution.With LSG's playoff hopes hanging in the balance, Klusener emphasized the need for consistency. "We've been just a little bit inconsistent by our own high standards," he said. "We just need to deal with the fact of where we are now and make sure that we become consistent."

Lucknow Super Giants Owner's Outburst Sparks Debate on Team OwnershipLucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka's heated exchange with skipper KL Rahul and head coach Justin Langer following their humiliating defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) has ignited a discussion about the appropriate role of team owners in professional sports.LSG's dismal performance, where openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head chased down a 166-run target in a mere 9.4 overs, prompted Goenka's outburst. The incident has drawn criticism from former India batter Virender Sehwag, who believes that team owners should refrain from expressing anger towards players or staff."The owner's role should be to motivate players, not to question them or get angry," Sehwag said on Cricbuzz. "Coaches and captains run the team, so it's better for owners to stay out of it."Sehwag, who served as mentor for Punjab Kings from 2016 to 2018, emphasized that team owners are primarily concerned with profit and loss. However, he argued that in the case of IPL franchises, where profits are guaranteed, owners should focus on supporting the team rather than interfering."These owners are businessmen who only understand profit and loss," Sehwag said. "But in the IPL, there is no loss, so what's bothering them? They're earning a huge profit. Their job should be to motivate the players, not to create unnecessary pressure."Sehwag also pointed out that players have options in the IPL and can easily move to other franchises if they feel disrespected or undervalued. "If you lose a player, your chances of winning are zero," he said. "When I left Punjab, they were fifth. They never came fifth in any other seasons."Sehwag's comments have resonated with many fans and experts, who believe that team owners should respect the authority of coaches and players and avoid creating a hostile environment. The incident has highlighted the importance of maintaining a healthy balance between ownership involvement and team autonomy in professional sports.

Lucknow Super Giants' Naveen-ul-Haq Shows Support for KL Rahul Amidst ControversyLucknow Super Giants (LSG) fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq has sparked speculation with a social media post that appears to show support for skipper KL Rahul following a controversial incident involving team owner Sanjiv Goenka.Goenka was caught on camera having a heated conversation with Rahul after LSG's 10-wicket loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad. The incident drew widespread criticism from fans and experts alike.Naveen's Instagram post, which features a photo of himself with Rahul in LSG colors accompanied by a heart emoji, has been interpreted by many as a gesture of solidarity with the captain. While the post does not explicitly address the controversy, its timing has raised eyebrows.The incident has also drawn the attention of Indian cricket team fast bowler Mohammed Shami, who expressed his disapproval of Goenka's behavior."Such behavior from an IPL team owner sends a bad message," Shami said on 'Cricbuzz Live.' "Crores of people are watching you and learning from you. If these things happen in front of cameras, it's shameful."Shami emphasized the importance of maintaining boundaries and having respectful conversations, suggesting that the incident should have been handled privately."It's very important to note that players have respect, and you are a respectful person too, as an owner," 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."The controversy has cast a shadow over LSG's season, which has been marked by inconsistent performances. The team currently sits in ninth place in the IPL standings with four wins and six losses.

Star pacer Mohammed Shami has strongly condemned the public reprimand of his India teammate KL Rahul by Lucknow Super Giants team owner Sanjiv Goenka, calling it "shameful" and inappropriate for sports.Goenka's animated confrontation with Rahul after Lucknow Super Giants' record-breaking defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad has sparked widespread criticism. Shami, the first Indian cricketer to speak out against the incident, expressed his disapproval in a recent interview."Crores of people are watching you and learning from you. If these things happen in front of cameras, and you see such reactions on screen, it's shameful," Shami said. "You should have boundaries in your communication, and this sends a very wrong message."Shami emphasized the importance of maintaining respect and professionalism in sports, regardless of the outcome of a match. He believes that such public confrontations undermine the integrity of the game and set a poor example for young players."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," Shami said.He added that while disagreements and heated moments can occur in the heat of competition, they should be handled privately and not in front of the public."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," Shami said.Shami's comments have been widely supported by fans and fellow cricketers, who believe that Goenka's behavior was unacceptable. The incident has raised questions about the role of team owners in professional sports and the need for clear boundaries in player-owner interactions.