LSG Owner Sanjiv Goenka Discusses Potential Acquisition of Rohit Sharma and Addresses False Reports about ₹50 Crore Deal

Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka made a significant announcement on Wednesday, introducing former Indian fast-bowling icon Zaheer Khan as the team's new mentor. The Super Giants narrowly missed out on securing a playoff spot in the previous IPL season, with their campaign concluding on a disappointing note amidst speculation of a conflict between Goenka and captain KL Rahul. Rumors of internal discord were fueled by an on-field conversation between the two, in which Goenka seemed visibly agitated following a loss.

Speculation has been rife in recent weeks about potential retentions and the upcoming mega auction, and while KL Rahul's future with the franchise remains uncertain, another high-profile name linked with a move is India’s T20 World Cup-winning captain Rohit Sharma. The Mumbai Indians stalwart has had a tumultuous few months before the IPL, with MI controversially replacing him as captain with Hardik Pandya. The decision sparked significant backlash, both on social media and in the stadiums.

Among the swirling rumours was one particularly sensational report claiming that Lucknow Super Giants had set aside a budget of INR 50 crore to acquire Rohit. The rumour gained widespread attention, mainly due to its perceived absurdity. Goenka, when asked about it during an interview with SportsTak, couldn't help but pass a chuckle at the suggestion.

While Goenka admitted that any team would benefit from having a captain and player of Rohit Sharma’s calibre, he clarified that reserving such an enormous sum for a single player was unrealistic, especially when the franchise is focused on building a competitive team from the ground up.

“Do you even know if Rohit Sharma is entering the auction? This is all unnecessary. It all depends on whether Mumbai Indians release Rohit Sharma or not. And even if Rohit comes to auction... if you put 50 per cent of your purse on one player, how will you buy other play?” Goenka said.

“Everyone wishes to have the best captain and best players. It's not about wanting. It all depends on what you have, and what is available, and what all you can do with it. Everyone franchise will have the same desire.”

Goenka on Rahul

The LSG owner also spoke about his equation with Rahul, calling him "an integral part of the franchise" amid speculations about the player's future in the team. However, Goenka remained evasive on player retention and captaincy for the next IPL season.

"Look, I've been meeting KL regularly over last three years. I'm a little surprised this meeting got so much attention. As I've said we have not taken any call till the retention rules are out," Goenka told reporters while unveiling Zaheer Khan as their team mentor.

"But KL has been an integral and important part of the LSG family since inception. He's played a very important role. He's like family and will be family."

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