Sanjiv Goenka Ignores Rishabh Pant After India Snub, Praises Prince Yadav

The landscape of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is often defined as much by off-field dynamics as it is by on-field performances. In the 2026 season, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have found themselves at the epicenter of such discussions, particularly regarding the relationship between franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka and captain Rishabh Pant. This relationship, which has already weathered a viral controversy involving an animated on-camera exchange, is once again under the microscope following recent developments in the Indian national team selection.

A Major Setback for Rishabh Pant

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently unveiled the squads for the upcoming series against Afghanistan, and the announcement carried significant consequences for Rishabh Pant. The explosive wicketkeeper-batter, who has been a mainstay in the Indian setup, faced a dual setback. Pant was omitted from the ODI squad entirely, signaling a shift in the selectors’ vision for the white-ball format. Furthermore, his standing in the Test hierarchy took a hit as he was stripped of the vice-captaincy, with KL Rahul being appointed as the deputy to lead the leadership transition.

While Pant’s exclusion and the subsequent loss of his leadership role became the primary talking point for analysts and fans alike, the reaction from the LSG camp—or lack thereof—has sparked a separate wave of speculation. In the high-pressure environment of top-tier cricket, the silence of a franchise owner regarding their captain’s national team status is rarely viewed as accidental.

Sanjiv Goenka Shifts Focus to Prince Yadav

Instead of offering words of support or addressing the disappointment surrounding Pant, Sanjiv Goenka took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to celebrate a different narrative. His focus was squarely on Prince Yadav, the young Lucknow Super Giants pacer who earned his maiden call-up to the Indian ODI squad. Goenka’s message was one of unbridled pride and professional admiration for the young talent.

“Delighted to see Prince Yadav earn his maiden ODI call-up for India. His rise this IPL season has been a joy to witness. He has the heart, the hunger, and the fearlessness to take on the best. This is just the beginning. Congratulations, Prince. I’m proud of you, and so is @LucknowIPL. Make India proud,” Goenka shared. While the praise for Yadav is undoubtedly well-deserved, the total avoidance of Pant’s situation stands in stark contrast to Goenka’s previous public stances, where he had once compared Pant’s leadership potential to that of legends like MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli.

The Meteoric Rise of Prince Yadav

Prince Yadav’s inclusion in the national squad is the culmination of a spectacular breakthrough season. Representing the Lucknow Super Giants, the young pacer has emerged as a genuine wicket-taking threat in IPL 2026. Over the course of 12 matches, Yadav has claimed 16 wickets, consistently dismantling top-order batting lineups with his raw pace and aggressive lengths. His season highlights include several multi-wicket spells and two crucial three-wicket hauls that kept LSG competitive in tight encounters.

Yadav’s journey to the top has not been without its hurdles. Having been part of the LSG setup since 2025, his debut season was underwhelming, yielding only three wickets in six appearances with an expensive economy rate of nearly 10. However, his transformation in 2026 has been nothing short of remarkable. With senior statesman Jasprit Bumrah unavailable for the upcoming series, the selectors have looked toward emerging pace options, and Yadav’s consistency made him an undeniable candidate for the national colors.

LSG’s Struggles and Pant’s Captaincy Under Pressure

While Prince Yadav’s individual success provides a silver lining, the overall state of the Lucknow Super Giants remains precarious. Under Rishabh Pant’s captaincy, the franchise has endured a dismal IPL 2026 campaign. Currently languishing at the bottom of the points table, LSG has managed only four victories in 12 matches. This poor run of form has led to intense scrutiny of Pant’s tactical decisions and his ability to galvanize the squad during critical moments.

The contrast between the captain and the young pacer is striking. While Yadav has flourished, Pant has struggled to find the consistency that once made him a certain starter for India. With only eight points to their name, LSG’s chances of a late-season recovery seem slim, and the apparent disconnect between the owner and the captain suggests that the franchise may be heading toward a significant period of internal reassessment. As the Afghanistan series approaches, the focus will remain on whether Pant can reclaim his lost ground and how the Lucknow Super Giants will navigate the fallout of a season that has promised much but delivered little.