IPL 2024: 'Truth Got Blown Away' - LSG Coach Justin Langer Breaks Silence on KL-Rahul-Sanjiv Goenka Episode

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Lucknow Super Giants head coach Justin Langer has broken the silence on the latest hot topic in the onoing IPL 2024 - the discussion between team owner Sajiv Goenka and skipper KL Rahul following the defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad last week.

Goenka was seen in a heated discussion with Rahul just after SRH had thumped LSG by 10 wickets, chasing down 166 inside 10 overs at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Wednesday (May 8).

The clip went viral with fans criticizing the LSG owner, while some commentators on air also were critical of what was seen during live coverage. This further led to reports that Rahul may not play for the franchise again and will leave the team before the next season.

There were also reports doing the rounds that Rahul has not travelled with the squad to Delhi to face Delhi Capitals on Tuesday (May 14) following the rift with the team owner.

However, Langer, who was also there during what gave an impression as a reprimand by Goenka to Rahul, said the discussion "might have looked aggressive, but it was quite tame".

"It's massive storm in a teacup, in fact in an espresso cup. The thing that fascinates me about India is this incredible passion about cricket. Mr. Goenka is no different. I'm no different. KL is no different," Langer said in an interview with Times of India (TOI).

"Our plan for the game (vs SRH) didn't go perfectly. In fact, it was a disaster. After the game, Mr. Goenka came onto the field and asked KL. 'What happened? Our plan that we talked about hasn't worked. What do we do now?' And then we talked through it."

Langer also felt due to the lack of sound, people may have mistook the discussion to be an aggressive one, but emphasized it was a tame one, adding that the owners have given them freedom to go about their business.

"The sound was off, no one heard what was said. It might have looked quite aggressive, but it was really quite tame," Langer added on the manner of the discussion between skipper Rahul and owner Goenka post the 10-wicket loss to SRH.

"When I first came to IPL, a lot of people told me the biggest challenge was how you deal with owners who want to be involved. The truth is the owners have just let KL and me go about our business. It's been such a relaxed experience at LSG," Langer said. "I'm surprised at the aftermath of that night. The truth got blown away."

Assistant coach Lance Klusener also had brushed away any heat between the owner and the skipper, calling it "a storm in a tea cup" like head coach Langer. Klusener expressed no concern over what he considered a 'robust discussion between two cricket lovers.

While LSG may have lost their last match, they still remain in the race for the playoffs, but need to win their remaining two matches by good margin and hope other results go their way as well.

LSG will first play Delhi Capitals on Tuesday (May 14) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi before they face Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in their final league stage match on Friday (May 17).