KL Rahul Shines Against Former Team LSG, Avoids Goenka After Emotional Win

KL Rahul was absent when Delhi Capitals faced Lucknow Super Giants earlier this IPL season in Vizag. However, the spotlight returned to him on Tuesday in Lucknow, where he played a crucial role in guiding Delhi to victory. His composed batting performance helped Delhi chase down 160 runs with ease. But it wasn’t just his batting that grabbed attention — his tense encounter with LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka and his son Shashwat became the real buzz on social media.

Rahul Returns to Familiar Ground

KL Rahul knows the Lucknow pitch well, having played for LSG over the last three IPL seasons. He left the franchise after a reported fallout with Goenka. Using his experience, Rahul played a steady and mature innings. He remained unbeaten at 57 from 42 balls, marking his third fifty of the season. During the match, he also became the fastest batter in IPL history to reach 5000 runs — achieving the milestone in just 130 innings, five fewer than the previous record-holder, David Warner.

Awkward Reunion with LSG Owners

After the match ended, Sanjiv Goenka walked onto the field to congratulate Rahul. The two exchanged a brief handshake. However, Rahul quickly turned away and avoided any conversation. He also ignored Shashwat Goenka, who stood next in line. Despite both trying to stop him, Rahul walked off, clearly uninterested in any interaction.

This awkward moment drew attention because of past tensions. In a previous interview with Star Sports, Goenka had indirectly criticized Rahul by saying, “It was a simple mindset to go in with players who have a mindset to win, who put the team first before their personal goals and personal aspirations and we wanted to retain as much as of core we could.”

In a separate interview on the same platform, Rahul responded without mentioning Goenka directly. He explained why he chose to move on. “The decision was made already. I don’t know what the comments are but they must have come after the retentions were made. Just felt like I wanted to start fresh, I wanted to explore my options, and I wanted to play somewhere I can find some freedom and a team atmosphere would be something lighter, much more balanced, pressure is already very high in the IPL,” he said.

Sanjeev Goenka tried to stop KL Rahul, but Rahul rejected any interaction. pic.twitter.com/1aQ68CIcic

— Himanshu Pareek (@Sports_Himanshu) April 22, 2025

Delhi Capitals Continue Strong Form

With the win over Lucknow, Delhi Capitals have now won six out of their first eight matches this IPL season — a feat they’ve achieved only five times in tournament history. The last time was in 2021, and on all previous occasions, they went on to reach the playoffs.

Delhi started IPL 2025 with four straight wins. Their streak ended with a loss to Mumbai Indians at home. They then edged past Rajasthan Royals in a thrilling Super Over match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. However, they faced another setback against Gujarat Titans. Tuesday’s win over Lucknow helped them bounce back again and complete a season double over Rahul’s former team.

Now, Delhi Capitals sit second on the points table. They have as many wins as Gujarat Titans, but trail slightly due to a lower net run rate.

Their next match is scheduled for April 27 at home, where they will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru.