IPL 2024: ‘Chandrakant Pandit Is A Militant Type of Coach’ – Ex-KKR Player Reveals

The former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) player, David Wiese, has made some huge revelations about the atmosphere in the dressing room last year, specifically about their coach, Chandrakant Pandit.

Last season was rough for the two-time IPL champions, especially without their main man, Shreyas Iyer. They landed in seventh place, bagging just 12 points from 14 matches, and missed the playoffs for the second time in a row.

Wiese has peeled back the curtain on the inner workings of the team’s dressing room, revealing that things weren’t as harmonious as they appeared. Contrary to popular belief, it wasn’t solely due to the team’s inconsistent form.

Here’s what Wiese shared during his interview on the Hitman for Hire podcast, hosted by Sam Keir, as reported by Sportskeeda:

“There were certain issues going on behind the scenes in the team. Guys weren’t happy with certain things that were going on, and a lot of the times, it was a tough changing room. There was a new coach coming in and he liked to do things a certain way, and that didn’t sit well with the players.”

‘Guys At KKR Were Frustrated’: David Wiese

While Chandrakant Pandit’s coaching record in Indian domestic cricket speaks for itself, his traditional coaching approach has raised eyebrows. There are reports of certain players being unhappy with his coaching methods, a sentiment that Wiese confirmed was felt by some members of the KKR dressing room.

Wiese further mentioned that the coach ran a tight ship akin to military discipline, dictating every move for the players. While Wiese preferred to follow his commands, there were some players who were not happy with it.

“Guys were frustrated because a lot changed, and the coach brought in things that he thought would bring success. But as an overseas player, they sometimes don’t sit well. He’s known in India as a fairly militant type of coach, a strict disciplinarian. The overseas guys who’ve played all over the world don’t need someone coming in and telling him how to behave and what to wear and what to do. I was chill with it, but there were players more stubborn than me.”

Chandrakant Pandit is currently coaching the Kolkata Knight Riders, and they have recently brought on board their former two-time IPL-winning captain, Gautam Gambhir, as a mentor.