Chandrakant Pandit, the former India wicketkeeper, has been appointed as head coach of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2023). Pandit, who turns 61 next month, replaces Brendon McCullum, who quit after a three-year stint to take charge of England’s Test team.
Making the announcement, Venky Mysore, CEO of KKR said, “We are very excited that Chandu is joining the Knight Riders family to lead us through the next phase of our journey. His deep commitment to what he does and his track record of success in domestic cricket, is there for everyone to see. We are looking forward to his partnership with our skipper Shreyas Iyer, which promises to be an exciting one.”
Accepting the new challenge, Chandrakant Pandit said, “It’s a great honour and privilege to be given this responsibility. I have heard from players and others who have been associated with the Knight Riders, about the family culture, as well as the tradition of success that has been created. I am excited about the quality of the support staff and the players who are part of the setup and I am looking forward to this opportunity with all humility and positive expectations.”
Chandrakant Pandit Career
Pandit played five Tests and 36 ODIs for India in his six-year international career spanning from 1986 to 1992. Post-retirement, he took up coaching and under his tutelage, Mumbai won Ranji Trophy in 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2015-16.
Under him, Vidarbha won their maiden Ranji title in 2017-18 and then helped them defend it in 2018-19. Pandit was at the helm last domestic season when Madhya Pradesh won their maiden Ranji Trophy title.
