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      Mohammed Shami condems Sanjiv Goenka's chat with KL Rahul Pic: x

Xtra Time Web Desk: Mohammed Shami, a prominent member of Team India, has emerged as a vocal supporter of Lucknow Super Giants' captain, KL Rahul, amidst a brewing controversy involving him and the team's owner, Sanjiv Goenka. Shami criticized Goenka's actions, suggesting that the matter should have been handled privately within the team's dressing room rather than being aired publicly. His remarks come in the wake of the Super Giants' disappointing 10-wicket defeat against SunRisers Hyderabad on May 8, which effectively dashed their hopes of qualifying for the IPL 2024 playoffs due to a decline in their net run rate.

 “Players have respect, and you are a respectful person, too, as an owner. Many people are watching you and learning from you. If these things happen in front of cameras … ye sharam wali baat hai (it’s a matter of shame),” Shami on the Cricbuzz.

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Following the defeat, Goenka was observed engaging in a heated exchange with Rahul on the field, drawing criticism from fans and cricket experts who deemed the behaviour towards the captain as unprofessional and unacceptable. Expressing his discontent, Shami condemned Goenka's public confrontation with Rahul, labelling it as shameful. He emphasized the importance of maintaining respect for players and conducting such discussions in a more private setting, away from the scrutiny of cameras.

“If you have to do that, there are many different ways. You could’ve done the same thing in the dressing room or the hotel. It wasn’t necessary to do it on the field. Aise reaction de ke koi lal quile pe jhanda toh gaad nahi diya aapne,” Shami said. 

Shami's comments highlight the significance of maintaining professionalism and respect within the cricketing fraternity, underscoring the need for constructive dialogue and internal conflict resolution mechanisms within teams.

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“He’s the captain, too, not a normal player. It’s a team game; it isn’t a big thing if the plan isn’t successful. Anything is possible in the game. I understand there can be good or bad days, but every player has respect, and there’s a way to talk. This sends a very wrong message, there are a lot of moments in the game when tempers flare up, and players quarrel with each other. It should not happen in cricket or any sport, but it does happen. A player talking to another player is different, but someone from the outside discussing something with the player is different. We are only speculating from what we are seeing, and only KL Rahul could tell what the conversation was about, but these kinds of reactions do not have any place in sports,” he added.