“When you have a mega auction, you try to keep as much of the core” – LSG owner Sanjeev Goenka on retention plans

Owner of the IPL team Lucknow Super Giants, Sanjeev Goenka, has discussed his team’s retention strategies. Additionally, he discussed the team’s intentions for their star captain, KL Rahul.

Goenka acknowledged that LSG was anticipating changes following the massive auction, following the announcement of former India cricketer Zaheer Khan as the team’s new coach. The owner stated that there will be no consideration of the near term when making judgements during the auction. In addition, he emphasised that in the run-up to the pivotal IPL mega auction in 2025, the team’s core should be preserved as much as possible.

“Every decision must be carefully considered and is medium-term; a reset is inevitable during a big auction. But you make an effort to keep the core as much as you can. In addition to [support staff members] Lance Klusener and Jonty Rhodes, coach Justin Langer continues. According to, Sanjeev Goenka stated, “So it’s a question of improving and going further from where you are now.”

Over the past three years, I have intermittently met with KL: Sanjeev Goenka

It is noteworthy that from the team’s founding in 2022, KL Rahul has served as captain of the LSG. When the great batter was in Kolkata recently, he met Goenka and even called the captain a member of the family. Notably, the team has qualified for the playoffs two out of the three seasons since its founding in 2022. They did not qualify for the playoffs in 2024, finishing in seventh place.

“I have been meeting with KL intermittently over the past three years, so to be honest, I’m shocked that this meeting is receiving so much media attention. He is indispensable to LSG. He has been involved since the beginning. He is like family to me and my son Shashwat [Goenka, who is also involved in operating LSG], Goenka stated.

Also Read: About Zaheer Khan’s employment as a mentor, Sanjiv Goenka said, “He will do wonders for LSG in the IPL.”

Gautam Gambhir, who had moved on to the Kolkata Knight Riders, was no longer the team’s mentor for the 2024 Indian Premier League. The supporters will, however, be hoping that LSG signs the best players available and wins their first IPL championship because Rahul is anticipated to stay.