KL Rahul’s return to the Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) home ground in IPL 2025 marked a notable moment off the field. KL Rahul, who captained the franchise from 2022 to 2024, left the team after a public fallout, citing his desire for more freedom and a relaxed environment. However, rumors suggested a deeper issue, fueled by a viral video showing LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka in a heated conversation with KL Rahul after a loss to SunRisers Hyderabad in IPL 2024.
The two men met again during the IPL 2025 season, but their interaction was anything but cordial. Following KL Rahul’s match-winning knock of 57* for Delhi Capitals (DC) against LSG, a brief and awkward handshake was exchanged between KL Rahul and Sanjiv Goenka. The video of the moment quickly went viral, showing KL Rahul barely acknowledging Sanjiv Goenka, who appeared to speak to him while the cricketer remained distant.
This tense encounter sparked reactions on social media, with Indian cricketer Hanuma Vihari posting a cryptic message: “Cold hand-shake,” adding fuel to the speculation surrounding the relationship between KL Rahul and Sanjiv Goenka. The incident was notable given KL Rahul’s impressive feat earlier in the match—becoming the fastest batter to reach 5000 runs in IPL history, surpassing cricketing legends like David Warner, Virat Kohli, and AB de Villiers.
Despite the tension visible in the viral moment, Sanjiv Goenka spoke positively about KL Rahul in a later interview. On a podcast, he described the cricketer as a “shareef insaan” (good person), expressing admiration for his honesty and talent. Sanjiv Goenka also stated that KL Rahul would always be like family to him, acknowledging his successful tenure as LSG’s captain and wishing him well in the future.
While the handshake moment remains a topic of conversation, Sanjiv Goenka’s public comments reveal a more nuanced perspective, showing that despite the apparent friction, there is respect and goodwill from both sides.
