Three-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have officially announced their separation from head coach Chandrakant Pandit. The franchise confirmed the news on Tuesday, July 29, stating that Pandit has “decided to explore new opportunities” and will not continue in his role.
Appointed ahead of IPL 2023, Pandit made history in 2024 by guiding KKR to their third IPL title, becoming only the second Indian—after Ashish Nehra—to win an IPL trophy as head coach.
“We are thankful for his invaluable contributions — including leading KKR to the Tata 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 franchise said in an official statement.
Pandit’s Tenure at a Glance
- Matches coached: 42
- Wins: 22
- Losses: 18
- No Result: 2 (due to rain)
Pandit took over from Brendon McCullum, who stepped down after IPL 2022 to coach the England Test team. His debut season in 2023 saw a struggling KKR finish seventh, with regular captain Shreyas Iyer sidelined by injury.
The turnaround came in 2024. With Iyer back at the helm and Gautam Gambhir returning as team mentor, KKR stormed through the league stage, finishing with their highest-ever points tally and best net run rate (NRR) in franchise history — before clinching the IPL title.
However, the momentum didn’t carry into IPL 2025. Following a major squad reshuffle after the mega auction, KKR managed just 5 wins from 14 matches, finishing 8th on the points table and missing out on the playoffs with two games to spare.
