While Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) may have won the IPL 2025 title, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who were the subject of much discussion, have now made a significant and surprising decision. The team has suddenly removed their head coach, Chandrakant Pandit, from his position.
Sports News: It has only been a short time since the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 concluded, but franchises have already begun preparations for the upcoming season. In this vein, two-time champion team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has made a major decision by removing their head coach, Chandrakant Pandit, from his post. This decision is quite surprising, as KKR won the IPL 2024 title under Pandit's coaching.
However, the team's performance in 2025 was extremely disappointing, and this is likely the reason for this major change. KKR's move has created a buzz in the cricket world.
Chandrakant Pandit's Tenure: A Title and Then a Decline
Chandrakant Pandit was appointed as the head coach of KKR in 2023. Under his leadership, the team performed brilliantly in 2024 and won the trophy. At that time, the team's captain was Shreyas Iyer, whose strategy and leadership were highly praised. But in 2025, the picture changed completely. KKR management released Shreyas Iyer, and he joined Punjab Kings for a large sum.
Playing for Punjab, Iyer took the team to the final, proving that there was no lack of leadership ability in him. In the 2025 season, KKR handed over the captaincy to experienced batsman Ajinkya Rahane, but the team's performance was disappointing. KKR won only 5 out of 14 matches and suffered losses in seven matches. The team finished eighth in the league stage with just 12 points.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) also had 12 points, but they moved ahead due to a better net run rate. Questions were constantly raised about the team's strategy, playing eleven, and captaincy. At the same time, the role of coach Chandrakant Pandit was also under fire.
What is the Real Reason Behind Removing the Coach?
Although KKR management has not explicitly stated the formal reason for removing Chandrakant Pandit, it is believed that poor team performance, disputes over captaincy selection, and dissatisfaction within the team may be the reasons behind it. This decision has also signaled that franchises are now making decisions based on performance, whether it is a player or a support staff member.
Now, all eyes are on who KKR appoints as their new head coach. According to some reports, the team is also considering a foreign coach. After the bad experience of the 2025 season, the team management does not want to take any risks.
