In a candid conversation on Shubhankar Mishra’s Unplugged podcast, Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka was asked a question about the young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The host wondered
if Goenka regretted not picking the teenager when he was available for a modest sum of around one or two crores. Goenka’s reply was honest and widely shared. He said, “Every team owner is or will be sad that Vaibhav Suryavanshi is not in his team.” He added that Rajasthan Royals, under Lakshmi Mittal, enjoy a rare luxury and they will not let Sooryavanshi leave easily. “And if you leave, you are sitting with both hands. It’s not just me, there are many other people sitting there,” he said.
The comment captured how Vaibhav’s fearless batting, power-hitting and maturity have made him the kind of player every franchise wants. Goenka’s words carried no regret but accepted that the opportunity had passed and that RR would hold on tightly to their star. After Vaibhav’s stunning 93 against LSG earlier in the season, the LSG owner had met him, applauded his knock, and later posted a heartfelt message: “The world has seen your talent. The nation sees the future in you. Preserve the innocence, keep honing your brilliance, and the world will be at your feet.”
🚨Sanjiv Goenka on Vaibhav Suryavanshi 🧐
“Every single team owner regrets, or will regret, not having Vaibhav Suryavanshi on their team.”
Goenka says Vaibhav’s biggest quality isn’t just his talent or shot-making, it’s his supreme confidence, without being overconfident.
He… pic.twitter.com/4ih88L74fO
— Mention Cricket (@MentionCricket) September 13, 2026
‘Everyone Was Shocked’: Goenka Looks Back on Shami’s ₹10 Crore LSG Move
The conversation in the podcast went far beyond one player. Goenka spoke openly about LSG’s difficult season. Reflecting on the team’s performance, he said, “To make the best bowling team of the IPL. Even after this your team is not ahead. But we came in at number 10. And this is the worst of LSG’s career.” He also laughed about becoming a constant presence on television cameras. “Apart from cricketers, the person who sees the most cameras is Dr. Sanjeev’s,” he noted. He recalled one funny moment when he was simply walking to the bathroom at the same time Rishabh Pant got out. Commentators twisted it into, “Sanjiv Goenka’s disgust,” Goenka said, “I cannot understand that thing. A normal reaction. You can’t do it.”
On Rishabh Pant, his affection was clear, “I am very fond of him. He will come anytime and catch you from anywhere. He will play some prank.” He also spoke about expensive signing of Mohammed Shami. “Mohammed Shami came in cash trade of Rs 10 crore. When you spent 10 crores on a bowler, it was a lot. Everyone was shocked. And this passion in Shami that I prove everyone wrong,” he said.
The LSG owner looked back at the emotional exit of Rising Pune Supergiant, the team that reached the final only to lose by one run on the last ball. He spoke about the limited role an owner actually plays in auctions, his early love for cricket that began with listening to the 1971 series and also shared some moments comparing the difficulty of handling a cricket team with handling a marriage after 45 years together.
