Fast bowler Mark Wood recently revealed a crazy story in a way that exposes how big and high-pressure the league is. Amid various promotional activities and training sessions, Wood ironically got severely ill and had to be confined to his bed. However, the franchise owner, who is believed to be Sanjiv Goenka, called him personally and even went to the extent of offering to send a private jet to take him to the ground for just his four overs, and immediately after that, the said owner would fly him back to his bedside.
Mark Wood said that he rejected the “unbelievable” offer after talking to his father, but the story is that it has now become popular, showing the grandeur and also the pressure of the expectations in the Indian Premier League.
Why Did An IPL Owner Offer Mark Wood A Private Jet While He Was Sick?
The gist of this disclosure is about how franchises get desperate to have their main bowlers who are capable of taking wickets for them in big games. Mark Wood said that in the 2023 season, he became very sick, and it was so serious that he ended up playing only 4 matches and taking 11 wickets. Even though there were three doctors present with him, the team management was keen to get him to the ground.
They offered him a private jet to reduce the physical impact of the journey so that he could just fly in, bowl his 4 overs and then return to rest without being tired due to the commercial flight or long travel. So, this episode brings out the “win at all costs” attitude, which is a common thing in the high-stakes IPL environment.
The LSG Connection: Was Sanjiv Goenka Behind The Remarkable Offer?
Although Mark Wood did not explicitly name the owner in the podcast, all signs point toward Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka. Wood’s most prolific IPL stint was with LSG in 2023, where he emerged as their primary pace threat before his season was curtailed. The timeline matches perfectly with the four-game window Wood mentioned in his story.
Goenka is known for his hands-on approach with the team, and Wood’s description of the owner personally calling him multiple times to check on his vitals aligns with the leadership style often associated with the LSG hierarchy. Interestingly, the story has resurfaced on the same day LSG is scheduled to face the Mumbai Indians in a vital IPL 2026 clash at the Wankhede Stadium.
