Tensions Rise in Kolkata Knight Riders Camp Over Coach's Treatment of Foreign Players

Concerns Surrounding Coach Chandrakant Pandit

Chandrakant Pandit, the head coach of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), is facing scrutiny regarding his management style, particularly concerning foreign players. Recent reports indicate that discord has emerged within the KKR team, as Pandit has expressed discontent over foreign players socializing with their compatriots from rival teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

According to a report from RevSports, Pandit reportedly summoned an overseas player to confront him about dining with a player from a competing team, which left the player astonished. The report elaborates:

“It is rumored that an overseas player was surprised when Pandit questioned him for having dinner with a rival team player, despite them being teammates in their national squad.”

This isn't the first instance of Pandit being under fire; in 2023, Namibian player David Wiese described him as a "very militant type of coach" during a podcast. Notably, KKR struggled under Nitish Rana's captaincy, finishing seventh that season.

KKR's Challenges in 2025

The year 2024 was a remarkable one for KKR, with Shreyas Iyer and Gautam Gambhir leading the team to an IPL championship after many years. However, Gambhir had to step down in 2025 for national commitments, and KKR made the controversial decision to release Shreyas Iyer. They also parted ways with key players like Mitchell Starc and Phil Salt, who are now excelling with their new teams. In a surprising move, KKR also let go of Nitish Rana, despite their claims of valuing relationships.

The situation has deteriorated further. Under the leadership of Ajinkya Rahane, KKR finds itself in a precarious position, needing to secure victories in all remaining matches, including today's game against Delhi Capitals, to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Last season, Salt's presence helped stabilize the middle order, but this year, despite the efforts of Captain Ajinkya Rahane and young talent Angrish Raghvangshi, stars like Rinku Singh and the highly regarded Venkatesh Iyer have yet to make a significant impact in securing wins.