Sanjiv Goenka and his Manchester Super Giants have landed in an unexpected social media storm after their 2026 kit reveal took a very strange turn online. The franchise unveiled a new red-and-blue jersey in a 53-second launch video meant to symbolise Manchester’s famous sporting split between United red and City blue. But instead of celebrating the design, fans latched onto something else entirely.
The promo clip, which also features stars like Jos Buttler and Sophie Ecclestone, has been widely ridiculed for its oddly generated on-field visuals. In one sequence, Aiden Markram is shown bowling without a ball and inexplicably sprinting in the opposite direction of the batter, while other moments show players switching between white and coloured kits mid-action. The confusion peaks with a wicketkeeper diving in an almost impossible, perfectly sideways motion to take a catch, leaving the entire clip looking more like a glitchy simulation than a cricket highlight reel.
A city divided by football through the winter, emerges united for our summer ❤️💙
Presenting Manchester Super Giants’ new threads 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Y2pQNMxmzG
— Manchester Super Giants (@ManchesterSG100) May 31, 2026
Fans Roast Manchester Super Giants’ AI-Generated Kit Launch Video
Here are some of the reactions:
A user pointed at the owners and said, “Is this a recession indicator? Billionaire Goenka saves a few quid by this AI slop instead of hiring professional video production crew.”
Is this a recession indicator? Billionaire Goenka saves a few quid by this AI slop instead of hiring professional video production crew.
— Chirag Wakaskar (चिराग वाकसकर) (@chiragwakaskar) June 1, 2026
Another user mentioned, “Might need to spend a bit of money tuning up your AI work.”
Might need to spend a bit of money tuning up your AI work pic.twitter.com/oXcL7s7ZVK
— Nathan Carlin (@ThePandaMan1) May 31, 2026
“You need to fire whoever created and approved this @ManchesterSG100. Such terrible AI slop,” one user added.
You need to fire whoever created and approved this @ManchesterSG100 . Such terrible AI slop
— Srivats Lakshman (@srivi20) June 1, 2026
WTF is my guy Markram trying to do?
And who tf is he bowling to?
Also what is he bowling?
Finally, where’s the ball when he is bowling??? pic.twitter.com/dyhbwU9lBo— Abhijeet (@alsoabhijeet) May 31, 2026
What the hell is this AI trash. Embarrassing.
Here’s Jos Buttler as wk on the boundary facing the wrong way diving to catch a ball in batting gloves. Have some respect. pic.twitter.com/s6wSraZEFf
— Sam Pickard (@SamPick21) May 31, 2026
One batsman halfway down the wicket, his teammate taking guard facing the keeper, and a third batsman standing there who’s turned up dressed for a county game.
Is this a serious promotional video, a tribute to ‘Brian Lara Cricket’, or just the worst of AI slop? pic.twitter.com/XJa7bE7VsB
— Philip West (@Philip_RJ89) June 1, 2026
Who Owns Manchester Super Giants?
The Manchester Super Giants, formerly the Manchester Originals, are jointly owned by the RP–Sanjiv Goenka Group (RPSG), which controls a 70% majority stake, and Lancashire County Cricket Club, which holds the remaining 30%.
The RPSG Group is headed by Indian billionaire Sanjiv Goenka, who also has a strong presence in global franchise cricket through ownership of teams like the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL and Durban’s Super Giants in SA20, expanding his sporting footprint across multiple leagues.
How Did Sanjiv Goenka’s IPL Franchise LSG Perform This Season?
The Lucknow Super Giants, owned by Sanjiv Goenka’s RPSG Group, endured a tough and forgettable IPL 2026 season, ending up at the very bottom of the table with just four wins from 14 matches. What was meant to be a competitive campaign never quite took off, with consistency and momentum both slipping away early and never fully returning.
Leadership changes added to the instability, as Rishabh Pant initially took charge but eventually stepped aside after a difficult stretch in form and decision-making. While there were a few positives—most notably a strong run from Mitchell Marsh, who piled up 563 runs—the batting unit as a whole rarely clicked when it mattered. On the brighter side, the bowling attack did show fight, with Prince Yadav, Mohammed Shami, and Mohsin Khan standing out for their control, discipline, and ability to hold things together in the death overs even in a struggling season.
