LSG owner Goenka says final conversation with Pant was amicable

Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka has described his final conversation with former captain Rishabh Pant as amicable, stating the two remain in contact and have planned to meet for dinner. Goenka's comments, made during a podcast interview, come after Pant was traded to the Delhi Capitals ahead of the IPL 2027 season. "Our last conversation wasn't just about the trade. We have continued to speak even after that," Goenka said. "Good luck to him and best wishes. We plan to have dinner one of these days." The remarks address speculation about the relationship between the franchise owner and its high-profile former captain. Pant was signed by LSG for a record Rs 27 crore at the 2025 mega auction and was named captain, replacing KL Rahul. However, the team failed to qualify for the playoffs in both the 2025 and 2026 seasons under his leadership. Following the back-to-back unsuccessful campaigns, LSG and Pant mutually agreed to change the captaincy. Pant subsequently stepped down at his own request before being traded to Delhi Capitals for Rs 15 crore, with LSG acquiring spinner Kuldeep Yadav for Rs 13.5 crore.