Lucknow Supergiants owner Sanjeev Goenka once again seen interacting with captain Ritha Pant on the field after they suffered a humiliating 40-run defeat to Rajasthan Royals at the Ekana Stadium on Wednesday. The hug sparked widespread speculation on social media, with mixed reactions from fans.However, the mood this time seemed obviously different. Different from his previous interaction with the LSG captain after the game, Goenka had a warm smile on his face during his conversation with Pant. The change in expression was noticeable, especially after the team suffered an embarrassing defeat.Rajasthan Royals put up a stellar performance and defeated Lucknow Supergiants by 40 runs, successfully defending their title by 159 runs after dismissing LSG for just 119 runs in the 18th over. The chase never got off the ground, with skipper Rishabh Pant’s early dismissal sparking a collapse, with only Mitchell Marsh showing resistance with a fine 55.Earlier, LSG’s bowlers impressed, with Mohammed Shami hitting two consecutive knocks while Mohsin Khan and Prince Yadav kept things tight to restrict RR to 159/6. However, their efforts are wasted due to poor shot selection and tenuous intermediary order during the chase.For RR, Ravindra Jadeja played a crucial role across the board as he scored an unbeaten 43 runs to stabilize the innings and later took a crucial wicket. He was well supported by Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger and RR’s bowlers dominated to register a comprehensive victory and climb to second place in the points table.LSG boss Sanjiv Goenka hugged captain Rishabh Pant after the match. Despite the defeat, Goenka kept a smile on his face, projecting a calmer and more composed attitude.However, social media users interpreted the moment differently, suggesting his restrained reaction may have stemmed from past controversies, with many claiming he suppressed his true emotions.
