Three-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have officially parted ways with head coach Chandrakant Pandit, just two months after wrapping up one of their toughest seasons in recent memory.
Chandrakant Pandit Leaves KKR
Chandrakant Pandit was the coach when KKR lifted the trophy in IPL 2024, but things took a sharp downturn this year, with the team finishing in eighth place, their joint-worst result in IPL history.
KKR shared the news on social media, confirming that the 63-year-old coach is moving on to “explore new opportunities.”
“Mr. Chandrakant Pandit has decided to explore new opportunities and will not continue as Head Coach of Kolkata Knight Riders,” the franchise said in a statement.
“We are thankful for his invaluable contributions – including leading KKR to the IPL Championship in 2024 and helping build a strong, resilient squad. His leadership and discipline have left a lasting impact on the team. We wish him all the very best for the future,” the statement further said.
We wish you the best for your future endeavours, Chandu Sir 🤗
PS: Once a Knight, always a Knight. Kolkata will always be your home 💜 pic.twitter.com/GF0LxX5fIz
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) July 29, 2025
High Expectations in 2023 Met With Mixed Results
Chandrakant Pandit took over as head coach of Kolkata Knight Riders in August 2022, ahead of the 2023 IPL season. Known for his winning track record in Indian domestic cricket, expectations were high. However, KKR only managed a seventh-place finish that year, with captain Shreyas Iyer sidelined by injury for the entire season.
Things turned around in a big way in 2024. With Iyer back as captain and Gautam Gambhir joining as team mentor, Pandit led KKR to a stunning title win. That season, the team not only clinched the championship but also made history by recording their highest-ever points tally and the best net run rate (NRR) by any team in a single IPL league season.
But the momentum didn’t last. After a major squad overhaul in the mega auction, the 2025 season ended in disappointment. KKR finished eighth on the points table, matching their worst-ever result in the league. They won just five out of their 14 games and were knocked out of playoff contention with two matches still to play.
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