"It hurt him because the world was watching," Suniel Shetty on KL Rahul and Sanjiv Goenka's CLASH in IPL

Indian cricketer KL Rahul found himself at the centre of attention during the 2024 Indian Premier League after a tense on field exchange with Sanjiv Goenka, owner of Lucknow Super Giants. The moment followed a heavy defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad and quickly became one of the most discussed incidents of the season.

The exchange sparked widespread debate among fans and commentators, with strong opinions surfacing online. Months later, actor Suniel Shetty, who is KL Rahul’s father in law, has shared his perspective on the incident in a conversation with Lehren Retro.

Suniel Shetty On The Public Reaction And Rahul’s Silence

Reflecting on the intense public response, Shetty said Rahul was fully aware of the support that came his way. He said, "People feel that way about him and he is aware of that, he has got all the love and sympathy. He never said a word till date. He has never talked about it, we never discussed that at home. Maybe, Sanjeev ji was going through something in his life at that period, and that's how we saw it."

Shetty acknowledged that the situation was not easy, especially because it unfolded in front of millions. He shared, "Of course, it hurt him, because the world is seeing. The world wanted to take decisions, and the world was passing statements. But, those are not our statements. That shows the love for Rahul, for the family, but I don't think we went into that also."

The actor made it clear that the family chose not to dwell on the controversy and instead focused on maintaining perspective during a challenging phase.

Pride In Rahul And A Personal Superstition

Suniel Shetty also spoke about the pride he feels watching Rahul represent India on the international stage. He said, "The biggest high for me is Rahul representing the country itself. If he is captain, vice captain, or leading from the front, responsible for India's victory, that's a big high for us automatically. But, for all of us, it's about him representing the country and his personality. I watch all the matches but I never watch when Rahul is playing."

Explaining why, Shetty added, "I only watch the highlights then. Yesterday also, Ahan was watching, I didn't go inside. I don't know if it's superstition or I get anxious, it's maybe because of that. I don't see Rahul playing on the field, absolutely don't. I watch him later in highlights, for sure."

KL Rahul is married to Suniel Shetty’s daughter Athiya Shetty. The couple tied the knot in January 2023 and welcomed their daughter, Evaarah, in March 2025.