Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) joined the Indian Premier League in 2022. The RPSG Group owns this franchise. Sanjiv Goenka serves as chairman of the RPSG Group. He bought the Lucknow franchise for a record-breaking Rs 7,090 crore during the 2021 IPL auction.
LSG made the playoffs in their first two seasons. The franchise has grown into one of the most talked-about teams in the IPL. This article covers everything about LSG’s ownership, the owner’s business empire, and the team’s brand value.
Who Is The Owner Of LSG?
Sanjiv Goenka owns Lucknow Super Giants through his company, RPSG Group. He secured the Lucknow franchise with the highest bid in IPL history. The Rs 7,090 crore bid made LSG one of the most expensive IPL acquisitions ever.
The RPSG Group has its headquarters in Kolkata. The company works across many sectors. These include power generation, IT services, retail, and consumer goods. RPSG Sports Private Limited manages all the sports teams under this group.
Sanjiv Goenka had earlier owned Rising Pune Supergiant from 2016 to 2017. That team played as a replacement franchise when CSK faced suspension. With LSG, Goenka returned to IPL cricket ownership in a big way.
About Owner Sanjiv Goenka
Sanjiv Goenka was born on January 29, 1961. He completed his Bachelor of Commerce from St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata in 1981. His father, Dr. Rama Prasad Goenka, built the original RPG Group empire.
In 2010, the RPG Group was split between two brothers. Harsh Goenka took charge of RPG Enterprises in Mumbai. Sanjiv Goenka founded RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group on July 13, 2011. He named the company after his father.
Sanjiv Goenka holds several prestigious positions. He served as the youngest president of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). He also became the youngest president of the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) at age 27. He served as the chairman of IIT Kharagpur’s board of governors.
Owner Quick Facts
| Full Name | Dr. Sanjiv Goenka |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | January 29, 1961 |
| Age (2025) | 64 years |
| Company | RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group |
| Headquarters | Kolkata, West Bengal |
| Net Worth (2025) | $4.1 – $4.9 billion |
| Forbes India Ranking (2024) | 65th richest person |
RPSG Group Business Ventures
The RPSG Group runs a $10 billion business empire. The company operates across multiple sectors. These include power and energy, IT services, retail, consumer goods, media, and sports.
CESC Limited forms the core of RPSG’s business. This company generates and distributes electricity in Kolkata and Howrah. The group also runs power plants in Haldia (West Bengal), Chandrapur (Maharashtra), and Greater Noida.
Spencer’s Retail is another major RPSG venture. The group bought Nature’s Basket from Godrej in 2019. They also own the snacks brand Too Yumm! and hold a stake in Dr. Vaidya’s ayurvedic products company.
Firstsource Solutions handles the IT-enabled services segment. The group also operates Quest Mall, a luxury retail destination in Kolkata. They own Woodlands Hospital with at least 80% equity stake.
As of March 31, 2024, the RPSG Group reported revenue of Rs 36,509 crore. The company continues to grow across all its business verticals.
Sports Investments by RPSG Group
Sanjiv Goenka views sports as both a passion and a business opportunity. The RPSG Group now owns multiple sports franchises across different leagues and countries.
ATK was the first sports asset for RPSG. This Kolkata-based football club competed in the Indian Super League. ATK won three ISL titles. In 2020, ATK merged with Mohun Bagan to form Mohun Bagan Super Giant. This team continues to dominate Indian football.
In cricket, RPSG owns teams in three different leagues. Lucknow Super Giants competes in the IPL. Durban Super Giants plays in South Africa’s SA20 league. The group bought this franchise in 2022.
In February 2025, RPSG expanded further. The group acquired a 49% stake in Manchester Originals. This team plays in The Hundred, a UK-based cricket league. Reports suggest RPSG paid around £58 million ($72 million) for this stake.
Shashwat Goenka, the Vice Chairman of RPSG Group, spoke about this expansion. He said the group wants Manchester Originals to become one of the top three sports teams in Manchester. They plan to bring the Super Giants legacy to global cricket.
RPSG Sports Teams
| Team Name | League | Year Acquired |
|---|---|---|
| Lucknow Super Giants | IPL (India) | 2021 |
| Durban Super Giants | SA20 (South Africa) | 2022 |
| Manchester Originals (49%) | The Hundred (UK) | 2025 |
| Mohun Bagan Super Giant | ISL (Football – India) | 2014 (as ATK) |
How LSG Was Acquired
The BCCI invited bids for two new IPL teams in August 2021. Twenty-two companies showed interest in the process. However, only six made serious offers due to the high base price.
RPSG Group won the Lucknow franchise with a Rs 7,090 crore bid. CVC Capital Partners secured the Ahmedabad team (Gujarat Titans) for Rs 5,625 crore. Together, these two franchises cost over $1.69 billion.
The team ran a public competition to decide its name. In January 2022, they announced the name “Lucknow Super Giants.” The franchise wanted to connect with cricket fans across Uttar Pradesh. This state has over 200 million people.
LSG appointed KL Rahul as their first captain. The team made smart picks in the auction. They bought players like Quinton de Kock, Marcus Stoinis, and Avesh Khan. These signings helped them reach the playoffs in their debut season.
LSG Net Worth & Brand Value
LSG has grown rapidly since its debut. The franchise’s brand value stands at around $102-122 million as of 2025. This growth reflects strong corporate backing and smart team management.
LSG earns revenue from multiple sources. These include media rights, sponsorships, ticket sales, and merchandise. The IPL’s media rights deal, worth Rs 48,390 crore (2023-2027), ensures steady income for all franchises.
Each IPL team now receives guaranteed annual media revenue of over $80 million. This income does not depend on on-field performance. Even teams that struggle on the field collect $400+ million over five years from broadcast rights alone.
The RPSG Group’s marketing skills have helped build LSG’s brand. They invested in star players and created strong regional connections. The franchise targets Uttar Pradesh’s massive fan base through social media and local events.
LSG Performance in IPL
LSG made a strong start in IPL. They reached the playoffs in 2022 and 2023. This made them one of the few teams to qualify for playoffs in their first two seasons.
The 2024 season proved difficult. LSG finished seventh in the points table. After the season, owner Sanjiv Goenka had a heated conversation with captain KL Rahul. This moment went viral on social media. Rahul later moved to Delhi Capitals.
Before IPL 2025, LSG made big changes. They retained Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Mohsin Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, and Mayank Yadav. They released KL Rahul, Krunal Pandya, Marcus Stoinis, and Quinton de Kock.
LSG bought Rishabh Pant for Rs 27 crore in the 2025 mega auction. This made him the most expensive player in IPL history. Pant took over as the new captain. Zaheer Khan joined as the team mentor.
In IPL 2025, LSG finished seventh with six wins and eight losses. Injuries hurt their bowling attack. Captain Rishabh Pant played a brilliant, unbeaten knock of 118 runs in the final match. However, the team missed the playoffs again.
LSG IPL Performance Summary
Here is the Performance Summary of LSG:
| Season | Position | Wins | Captain |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 3rd (Playoffs) | 9/14 | KL Rahul |
| 2023 | 3rd (Playoffs) | 8/14 | KL Rahul |
| 2024 | 7th | 7/14 | KL Rahul |
| 2025 | 7th | 6/14 | Rishabh Pant |
LSG Home Ground
Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow serves as LSG’s home ground. This stadium can hold over 50,000 spectators. It hosted India’s first T20 International against the West Indies in 2017.
LSG could not play at Ekana during their first season in 2022. COVID-19 restrictions forced the IPL to host all matches in Maharashtra. From 2023 onwards, LSG started playing home matches in Lucknow. The fans in Uttar Pradesh have shown strong support for the team.
LSG Key Personnel
Justin Langer coaches the Lucknow Super Giants. The former Australian cricketer and coach brings valuable experience to the team. Zaheer Khan serves as the team mentor. He provides guidance on pace bowling and strategy.
Rishabh Pant leads the team as captain. The wicketkeeper-batter joined LSG in 2025 after his record-breaking auction price. Nicholas Pooran serves as the vice-captain and provides firepower in the middle order.
LSG Fan Base
LSG has built a strong fan following in just four seasons. The team has around 5.1 to 5.6 million followers on social media platforms. This makes them one of the top 10 most popular cricket clubs from India.
The signing of Rishabh Pant boosted LSG’s popularity. His massive fan following added to the team’s social media presence. The franchise targets the Uttar Pradesh market, which remains largely untapped in terms of cricket fandom.
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Conclusion – LSG is Led by RPSG Group And Goenka
Sanjiv Goenka and the RPSG Group have turned LSG into a competitive IPL franchise. The Rs 7,090 crore investment has grown in value over four seasons. The team reached playoffs twice and built a loyal fan base in Uttar Pradesh.
RPSG’s sports portfolio keeps expanding. The group now owns cricket teams in three countries and a football club in India. This shows Goenka’s long-term vision for sports ownership.
LSG aims to win their first IPL title in the coming seasons. With strong corporate backing, experienced coaching staff, and star players like Rishabh Pant, the franchise looks set for a bright future.
