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'Militant Type,' Ex-KKR Star Reveals Overseas Players' Feud with Coach Chandrakant Pandit

Nitish Rana with coach Chandrakant Pandit | Source: X.comNitish Rana with coach Chandrakant Pandit | Source: X.com

David Wiese, the Namibian all-rounder, pointed out that the ‘militant type and strict disciplinarian' coaching style of Kolkata Knight Riders' head coach Chandrakant Pandit didn't sit well with foreign players in IPL 2023, leading to friction in the dressing room. 

The two-time IPL winners brought in Chandrakant Pandit as head coach after his domestic success with Madhya Pradesh. 

However, despite all the buzz, the team had a rough ride last season, ending up in 7th place on the leaderboard with 8 losses out of 14 matches.  

Even after a less-than-stellar season in 2023, Kolkata Knight Riders backed Pandit, confirming him as coach for the upcoming 2024 season. Furthermore, in a strategic move, they appointed their ex-captain Gautam Gambhir as the team's mentor. 

During his appearance on the Hitman for Hire podcast, Weise revealed the intense atmosphere within the team's dressing room and specifically criticised Chandrakant Pandit, suggesting that his leadership style was overly authoritative even towards international players. 

“Certain issues were going on behind the scenes in the team. Guys weren't happy with certain things that were going on, and a lot of the time, it was a tough changing room. A new coach was coming in and he liked to do things a certain way, and that didn't sit well with the players," Wiese said.  

Wiese also revealed that the KKR players were frustrated with the coaching methods of Chandrakant Pandit. 

"Guys were frustrated because a lot changed, and the coach brought in things that he thought would bring success. But as an overseas player, they sometimes don't sit well. He (Chandrakant) is known in India as a fairly militant type of coach, a strict disciplinarian. The overseas guys who've played all over the world don't need someone coming in and telling them how to behave what to wear and what to do," he added. 

Kolkata Knight Riders launched their IPL 2024 campaign with a resounding win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in a thrilling encounter. Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and the young speedster Harshit Rana stole the show with their match-winning performances.