Kolkata Knight Riders mentor Gautam Gambhir has opened up on his relationship with team’s head coach Chandrakant Pandit. Gambhir’s comments came days after former KKR star David Wiese critiised Chandrakant by terming his coaching style as “militant”. Gambhir, who was the mentor of LSG during IPL 2021 and 2022, joined KKR this season in the same role. Talking about the brief period of time he has worked with the celebrated coach of Indian domestic circuit, Gambhir said that he has not heard any criticism about him.
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Under Chandrakant’s coaching Mumbai, Vidarbha, Madhya Pradesh enjoyed much success in the Ranji Trophy. And since 2023 season, he has been associated with KKR as the coach of the side.
“There were certain issues going on behind the scenes in the team. Guys weren’t happy with certain things that were going on, and a lot of the times, it was a tough changing room. There was a new coach coming in and he liked to do things a certain way, and that didn’t sit well with the players,” David Wiese had said ‘Hitman for Hire: A year in the life of a franchise cricketer’ podcast.
“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’s 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 him how to behave and what to wear and what to do. I was chill with it, but there were players more stubborn than me,” he had added.
However, the experience of Gambhir with Chandrakant is definitely a different one thus far.
“I have not heard about any criticism. It’s been early days, and my working relationship with him has been really very good. Hopefully, it will continue that way. Whatever has been said, I have no clue about it. I think he has been pretty successful in first-class cricket, and that is the reason why he has got this opportunity. So far, it has been really good working with him,” said Gambhir as quoted by Times Now.
Earlier, KKR’s star all-rounder Andre Russell had also backed the coach by saying that “he’s been doing an amazing job’.
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