LSG Owner’s Outburst Sparks Debate on Team Ownership
Lucknow Super Giants Owner’s Outburst Sparks Debate on Team Ownership
Lucknow 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.
