David Wiese, a former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) player, recently spoke about the challenges faced by the team under the coaching of Chandrakant Pandit. Wiese described Pandit as a strict coach who imposed control over the players, including their behaviour and attire, regardless of their nationality.
According to Wiese, there were underlying problems within the team. The players were unhappy with the changes introduced by Pandit:
“Problems were happening within the team. Some guys were unhappy about certain things. The atmosphere in the dressing room was often tense. A new coach arrived and wanted things done differently, which didn’t please the players.”
Wiese emphasised that Pandit's authoritarian approach clashed with the more independent mindset of overseas players who had experience playing in various leagues worldwide.
Despite criticism, Chandrakant Pandit will remain as head coach for the upcoming season, with former KKR captain Gautam Gambhir joining as the team's mentor.
KKR began their campaign positively, beating Sunrisers Hyderabad by four runs at Eden Gardens. As they prepare to face the Royal Challengers in Bengaluru, both teams coming off wins in their previous matches, KKR will aim to build on their early success and maintain their momentum in IPL 2024.