All is not well in KKR? Star player upset with coach Chandrakant Pandit over objection dining with rival player

New Delhi: Kolkata Knight Riders’ current IPL season performance is significantly below their championship-winning form of last year. With only three wins from nine matches, their playoff hopes are uncertain. The team’s struggles have led to questions about the coaching staff, particularly head coach Chandrakant Pandit, whose leadership style has reportedly caused dissatisfaction among some players. A player commented on the team’s lack of the same enthusiasm as the previous season.

A RevSportz report details a disagreement involving KKR’s Pandit, who socialized with a player from an opposing team, unaware that the two were actually teammates on their national team.

Following Gautam Gambhir’s departure to the Indian national team, and subsequent departure of assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) restructured their coaching staff. Nayar’s later dismissal from the national team led to his swift re-hiring by KKR. He has since resumed his coaching role with the team.

Following KKR’s IPL 2024 victory, Gambhir and Nayar received significant public praise for their player development and support, unlike Chandrakant Pandit, who received comparatively less recognition.

Pandit’s role as coach during Madhya Pradesh’s historic 2022 Ranji Trophy victory is now subject to scrutiny in light of recent events.

No other Kolkata Knight Riders coach or mentor has achieved the same level of success as Gautam Gambhir, according to a press conference comment by Harshit Rana.

“I won’t say that because the composition of our support staff is basically the same (from last year). (Abhishek) Nayar Bhai has also come back. Chandu Sir, (Dwayne) Bravo are all good. But yes, there is this thrill factor which I miss a little. I am not talking about anyone else,” Harshit Rana said ahead of the match against Delhi Capitals.

“You also know that Gambhir has an aura, the way he comes and takes the team along. I was just talking about that,” he had said.

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