The Indian Premier League isn’t just about cricket; it’s about moments. One such moment that has gone viral is the icy post-match handshake between Delhi Capitals’ star batter KL Rahul and Lucknow Super Giants’ owner Sanjiv Goenka.
The buzz stems from last season when Goenka was publicly seen expressing his frustration to then-captain KL Rahul after LSG’s loss—an incident many called “humiliating.” While Rahul never addressed the episode directly, fans believe that was the tipping point behind his exit from LSG. He joined Delhi Capitals this season and appears to be relishing a more relaxed team environment.
On Monday night, Rahul made headlines again, but not just for cricket. After steering DC to victory with an unbeaten 57, Rahul came face-to-face with his former team owner during the post-match handshakes. What followed was a brief, cold moment: Rahul barely looked at Goenka, shared a quick handshake, and walked away while Goenka seemingly tried to speak. The clip is now trending, with fans calling it a “cold handshake.”
Interestingly, after Rahul’s exit, Goenka had publicly stated:
Rahul, however, hinted at something deeper in a recent interview, saying, “I wanted to play with more freedom and be part of a dressing room that was more relaxed.” Many interpreted it as a subtle dig at the high-pressure LSG environment.
Meanwhile, LSG’s new skipper Rishabh Pant showed visible signs of frustration during the same game. From delaying his batting order to displaying anger in the dugout and on the field—his behavior was uncharacteristically tense. Fans now speculate that the pressure Goenka once allegedly put on Rahul may be weighing down on Pant too.
Adding to the drama, Rahul also reached a major milestone during the match—becoming the fastest-ever batter to score 5000 IPL runsreaching the landmark in just 130 innings and surpassing legends like David Warner (135), Virat Kohli (157), and AB de Villiers (161).
The cold handshake may have lasted seconds, but its ripples will linger across social media and cricket circles for a long time.
