Mumbai Indians my biggest inspiration, their template is for all sports franchises to admire: Lucknow franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka

Sanjiv Goenka, the owner of the RPSG group and the new Lucknow franchise of the Indian Premier League, terms Mumbai Indians as his “biggest inspiration”. Goenka hailed the Reliance Industries-owned franchise for their stellar success in the league – the Mumbai Indians have five IPL titles, more than any other team in the league’s history.

Goenka reckoned that Mumbai Indians’ success model is not only one that each IPL team should try emulating but it is a template for all sports franchises of the world to draw inspiration from. Meanwhile, Goenka further reckoned that the IPL must move away from the concept of mega-auctions as it has outlived its utility.

“I have to follow the system [mega auctions],” he said during an interaction with TOI. “I have no role in the rules and regulations [of the IPL]. That said, the biggest inspiration for me is Mumbai Indians. What they have achieved, and how they have gone about it, is a template for not only other IPL teams but sports franchises worldwide.”

Gautam Gambhir will have a motivational role to play: Sanjeev Goenka

Goenka, who previously owned the Rising Pune Supergiants when Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals were suspended for two years in the aftermath of the IPL spot-fixing scandal, also explained what kind of a role would be played by Gautam Gambhir, who was named as the mentor of the franchise on December 18.

“Gautam will primarily have a motivational role to play,” he said. “He will also help to create a blueprint for the franchise in the long term. We wanted to have people with a proven track record of success. Gautam has also successfully groomed a generation of youngsters for KKR and that went in his favour.”

“He has an image of being a totally non-partisan leader with a focus on results. Look at what he did for KKR. Fundamentally we would like the dressing room to be geared towards a culture of performance,” Goenka added.

Gambhir, a sitting Member of Parliament for the ruling party BJP, was chuffed about his appointment. “The fire to win a contest still burns bright inside me. The desire to leave a winner’s legacy still kicks me 24×7. I will not be contesting for a dressing room but for the spirit and soul of Uttar Pradesh,” he said.