- July 30, 2025
It is difficult to separate, particularly after a dream. Slightly more than a year after leading the Kolkata Knight Riders to a dream IPL title in 2024, head coach Chandrakant Pandit has left the franchise. KKR made it official on July 29 when they took to Instagram and posted a heartfelt message that read: “Once a Knight, always a Knight. Kolkata will always be your home.”
For followers, this seemed to be more than a normal departure. This wasn’t a coach just finishing his term – it was the closure of a tale that had a few emotional peaks, team strategies, and finally a sad denouement to be told. But why did this happen? And what does it say about the future direction of KKR?
The 2024 High: A Title, a Turnaround, and Total Trust
This was not a coincidence. The KKR looked comfortable, measured, and completely careless—this is Pandit’s characterization. He took a well-established belief in domestic cricket, where contesting under the pressure of 20 or 40 overs hardly existed, and made it into something productive. So, Kolkata’s 2024 title was not just a trophy; it was vindication.
The old India wicketkeeper was not new to it, having lifted a boatload of Ranji titles with Mumbai, Vidarbha, and Madhya Pradesh, but an IPL title was different, especially with KKR coming out of a bad last season. Pandit was welcomed by KKR fans, and he was more than a coach – he became family.
The 2025 Slide: What Went Wrong After the High?
Yet, here we are in 2025, having a conversation about goodbyes too. What happened?
Their 2025 campaign was a slow burn that never caught fire—more fizzle than flame for the men in purple. They finished 8th on the table with only 5 wins from 14 matches. The team never really entered its zone due to injuries, a form slump, or maybe even a bit of strategic stagnation.
But here’s the irony: KKR was close. Two of their last three matches went against them, and one was a washout. Would have a few different results in there, and who knows? That’s how small the margins were.
Teams shift quickly, and franchises tend to want to scrap everything after one off-season. There has been no formal statement issued suggesting an exit of this nature was forthcoming; indeed, the context and timing would imply it was not entirely mutual. The writing was, as they say, on the wall.
A Legacy Beyond Just One Trophy
Pandit brought structure, clarity, and accountability back to a team that was meandering along. His connection with his players – particularly fellow Mumbaikar Shreyas Iyer – was evident in how well the team gelled within a short timeframe. He didn’t depend on a few stars; he also gave opportunities to players with defined roles as best he could, believed in form rather than profile, and kept his approach simple.
More than anything, he showed that an Indian domestic coaching pedigree can be transferable to the IPL. This is significant for Indian coaching minds that have often felt overlooked in a league that can put so much importance on international pedigree.
Chandrakant Pandit’s time at KKR may have been short, but it was anything but forgettable. One magical season brought Kolkata its third IPL crown, and fans a new figure to admire. His departure might feel sudden, even harsh—but the love remains.
What do you think—was KKR too quick to part ways? Or is this just the IPL’s ever-spinning carousel doing its thing again?
