Sanjiv Goenka's Rishabh Pant prophecy ages like milk after LSG exit, fans take dig: '15 years, five IPL titles'

Sanjiv Goenka-owned Lucknow Super Giants axed Rs 27 crore buy Rishabh Pant from their side on Tuesday despite once claiming that the wicketkeeper-batter will play for them "14-15 years" and win "at least five IPL titles" for the franchise. The video of Goenka's tall claims is going viral after he ruthlessly dumped Rishabh Pant after two seasons of failures.

Rishabh Pant joined LSG before IPL 2025 for the highest amount ever spent on a player (Rs 27 crore), but his two-season stay at the franchise was a nightmare. Pant could score 581 runs across 26 innings in two seasons at a poor strike rate of 136, while the franchise never finished above seventh under his captaincy in the IPL 2025 and 2026 seasons.

More from Firstcricket

The first signs of breakdown in the relationship between Sanjiv Goenka and Rishabh Pant appeared at the start of the IPL 2026 season when he was seen having a word with the captain publicly, in what was a repeat of his encounter with KL Rahul that forced the batter to leave the franchise.

And the same has happened this time as Pant left for his former team, Delhi Capitals, in a direct swap as LSG landed spinner Kuldeep Yadav.

Pant leaves LSG without winning 'five IPL titles'

Pant's transfer news came a few days after he was relieved of the captaincy duties at Lucknow Super Giants. While the franchise claimed that Pant had asked for him to be removed from the role, insiders say he was sacked from the top spot.

Amid the whole mess, a video of Goenka talking highly about Pant after buying him in the auction has gone viral. In the video, Goenka can be seen making tall claims about a potential IPL-winning era under the cricketer at LSG.

“Surely Rishabh Pant will play for at least 14-15 years for us, we hope at least five IPL titles in these years," Goenka said. "People say that MI and CSK are more successful. Mahi and Rohit are undeniably brilliant. Mark my words, after 10 years, people will say, Mahi, Rohit and Rishabh.

"In my belief, time will prove that he is not only the most successful player of the IPL, but he is going to be the best player of the IPL. I haven't seen players with that kind of passion and hunger to win," he added.

"His thought process is a little different. If you go with a conventional thought process, then it isn't unique. I see an in-born leader in him. According to me, he will be the best captain that IPL has ever seen," he added.

Fans slam Goenka, LSG

Fans took a dig at LSG and Goenka as the old video went viral.

One fan said: "54 crores ka scam hogaya (LSG suffered a Rs 54 crore scam)."

Another said: "Ye ek jeet jaye 15 saal main wohi bohat hai (Winning even one IPL in 15 years would be enough for LSG)."

Meanwhile, the rumours market is rife with the news that Mitchell Marsh will be the next LSG skipper