Three Indian Premier League (IPL) title winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have bid farewell to head coach Chandrakant Pandit, two months since the end of one of the franchise’s worst seasons on record. Pandit was in charge when KKR captured the championship in IPL 2024, but the team sunk to their equal-worst eighth finish in IPL 2025. Kolkata Knight Riders took to social media to confirm Pandit’s departure, also stating that the 63-year-old has decided to “explore new opportunities”.
Official Statement from the Franchise
“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.
Pandit was named Knight Riders head coach in August 2022 ahead of the 2023 season. A habitual winner of games in Indian domestic cricket, Pandit could manage only seventh in IPL 2023, with then-captain Shreyas Iyer sitting out the season injured.
The IPL 2024 Triumph and Subsequent Fall
After the return of Iyer as captain and Gautam Gambhir as mentor of the team, Pandit guided KKR to an authoritative title victory in IPL 2024. KKR posted a record for the most number of points covered in a season in franchise history, and also set the record for the highest net-run-rate (NRR) covered by any IPL team in a league campaign.
But after the mega auction, KKR proceeded to have a season to remember in IPL 2025. The team finished eighth, their worst in IPL history shared with another team. KKR lost five of their 14 league matches in IPL 2025 and went out of playoff races with two matches still left to play.
