Owner of Lucknow Super Giants

The Lucknow Super Giants are owned by Dr. Sanjiv Goenka, the chairman of the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, one of India’s largest business conglomerates. The RPSG Group bought the Lucknow franchise in October 2021 for a record 7,090 crore rupees, at the time the highest price ever paid for an IPL team, and has owned it outright ever since through its sports arm, RPSG Sports Private Limited.

Goenka is one of the most visible and hands-on owners in the IPL, a regular presence at matches whose reactions in the team dugout are almost as famous as his team’s performances.

The Record-Breaking Purchase

When the BCCI auctioned two new IPL franchises ahead of the 2022 season, the bidding was fierce. CVC Capital Partners won the Ahmedabad franchise for 5,625 crore rupees, while the RPSG Group secured the Lucknow franchise for 7,090 crore rupees, a record bid that stunned the cricket world. Goenka later recalled that many thought he was mad to pay such a sum; within a few years, the franchise’s value had multiplied.

Who Is Sanjiv Goenka?

Dr. Sanjiv Goenka chairs the RPSG Group, a Kolkata-headquartered conglomerate with interests spanning power, carbon black, IT services, FMCG, media, retail and sports, operating in more than 35 countries. The group was founded by his father, Dr. Rama Prasad Goenka, and Sanjiv Goenka has expanded it into one of India’s most diversified business houses.

Goenka’s interest in sports ownership is long-standing. Before LSG, the RPSG Group owned the Rising Pune Supergiant, which played in the IPL in 2016 and 2017 and reached the final in 2017. That experience gave the group a running start when it launched the Lucknow franchise.

A Growing Global Sports Empire

Through RPSG Sports, Goenka has built one of the most ambitious multi-team portfolios in world cricket. Alongside the Lucknow Super Giants, the group owns the Durban Super Giants in South Africa’s SA20 league and Mohun Bagan Super Giant, the Kolkata football giants who compete in the Indian Super League. The group also holds a stake in a Manchester-based franchise in England’s The Hundred competition, which is being rebranded with the Super Giants identity.

This global network gives LSG access to scouting networks, coaching resources and commercial opportunities across three continents, and reflects Goenka’s belief that franchise cricket is a long-term growth business.

LSG’s On-Field Journey

Lucknow Super Giants made an immediate impact, reaching the playoffs in both 2022 and 2023 under the captaincy of KL Rahul, with Gautam Gambhir serving as mentor. Those back-to-back playoff appearances marked LSG as one of the league’s best-run new franchises.

The following seasons were more difficult. The team finished seventh in both 2024 and 2025, and endured its worst campaign in 2026, finishing tenth with 12 points under captain Rishabh Pant, who had been bought for a record sum at the mega auction. Despite the poor 2026 season, the franchise’s underlying business has remained strong, with healthy revenues from the BCCI’s central pool of broadcast and sponsorship income.

The 2026 Stake Sale Reports

In 2026, reports emerged that the RPSG Group was exploring the sale of a minority stake in Lucknow Super Giants, with the group said to be seeking a valuation of between 1.5 and 2 billion US dollars. A 15 to 20 percent stake at that valuation would be worth hundreds of millions of dollars, reflecting how dramatically IPL franchise values have appreciated since the 2021 auction.

Crucially, the reported plan involves only a minority stake. Goenka and the RPSG Group would retain overwhelming control of the franchise and continue to make all key cricketing and business decisions. The move is seen as a way to bring in global investment partners while the valuation cycle is at its peak.

The Ekana Stadium Home

LSG play their home matches at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, one of India’s newest international venues. The stadium has quickly developed a reputation for passionate crowds, and the franchise has worked hard to build a distinct identity around the city, from its jersey designs to its community programmes.

Building a loyal home fanbase has been a priority for the ownership. Lucknow had waited a long time for its own IPL team, and the Goenka group’s investment in grassroots engagement has made LSG one of the league’s most enthusiastically supported newer franchises.

What Next for LSG

With a settled ownership, a global sports network and one of the IPL’s most recognisable owners, LSG’s challenge is now purely on the field: converting financial strength into trophies. The 2026 wooden spoon was a setback, but the franchise’s first two seasons showed what the operation is capable of when the squad clicks. The coming auctions will be critical as Goenka looks to rebuild around his core of Indian talent.

RPSG Sports: The Wider Portfolio

The Lucknow franchise sits within a growing sports empire. RPSG Sports Private Limited, formed in 2014, manages the group’s sporting assets, which include the Durban Super Giants in South Africa’s SA20 league and Mohun Bagan Super Giant, one of India’s most storied football clubs, competing in the Indian Super League.

The group also holds a stake in a Manchester-based franchise in England’s The Hundred, which is being rebranded with the Super Giants identity. This multi-league presence gives LSG shared scouting networks, coaching expertise and commercial partnerships across three continents. For Goenka, who has spoken about building emotional connections between teams and their fans, the portfolio reflects a long-term belief that franchise sport is one of the great growth businesses of the coming decades.

Who is the owner of Lucknow Super Giants?

Lucknow Super Giants are owned by Dr. Sanjiv Goenka, chairman of the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, which bought the franchise for 7,090 crore rupees in October 2021.

How much did RPSG pay for LSG?

The RPSG Group paid 7,090 crore rupees for the Lucknow franchise in 2021, a record bid for an IPL team at the time.

What other teams does Sanjiv Goenka own?

Through RPSG Sports, Sanjiv Goenka also owns Durban Super Giants (SA20), Mohun Bagan Super Giant (Indian Super League football) and holds a stake in a Manchester-based The Hundred franchise.

Is Sanjiv Goenka selling LSG?

Reports in 2026 said the RPSG Group was exploring the sale of a 15 to 20 percent minority stake at a valuation of 1.5 to 2 billion dollars, while retaining full control of the franchise.

Who is the captain of Lucknow Super Giants?

Rishabh Pant is the captain of Lucknow Super Giants, having taken over the role ahead of the 2025 season.

How have LSG performed in the IPL?

LSG reached the playoffs in their first two seasons (2022 and 2023), finished seventh in 2024 and 2025, and finished tenth in 2026.