Lucknow Super Giants' (LSG) promising-looking campaign in the 2024 edition of the IPL has been jolted twice now with back-to-back heavy defeats and alarm bells have started ringing all of a sudden. First, a 98-run loss against the Kolkata Knight Riders and now Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) chasing down 166 runs with 62 balls to spare. It was annihilation of the highest order and it seems that the owner of the franchise, Sanjiv Goenka was extremely disappointed with the same as he let his frustration out on the captain KL Rahul.
Rahul was on the receiving end after playing a 33-ball 29 knock on what seemed like a tricky surface in Hyderabad at the start. However, Travis Head (89 off 30) and Abhishek Sharma (75 off 28) nipped every such speculation in the bud with sheer intent and hitting quality.
Goenka was almost scolding KL Rahul before the coach Justin Langer joined the ongoing animated one-sided conversation. Rahul was visibly uncomfortable and as soon as Langer came, he left. Goenka faced flak for his attitude as many reckoned that there was a way of showing disappointment and talking to players, which it wasn't, especially not in the public eye when umpteen cameras were there on the field.
Watch the video:
On a pitch where the visitors crawled to 165, Sunrisers Hyderabad made a mockery of it by registering the highest-ever run-chase inside 10 overs in T20 cricket.
Lucknow Super Giants have lost six games now and will need to win both their remaining games against Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians to stay in the hunt for the playoffs and hence have the destiny very much still in their own hands. Sunrisers Hyderabad meanwhile, jumped to third place and knocked Mumbai Indians out of the race for the playoffs.
