KKR Faces Major Blow Before IPL 2026

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the IPL 2024 champions, have suffered a significant setback ahead of IPL 2026. Head coach Chandrakant Pandit has decided to part ways with the franchise. He was appointed as KKR’s head coach in August 2022, replacing Brendon McCullum. However, Pandit will not continue with the team in the upcoming season.

While there’s still time for IPL 2026, this development has come as a surprise. KKR's performance in IPL 2025 under Ajinkya Rahane’s captaincy was disappointing, with the team winning only 5 out of 14 matches and finishing 8th in the points table, failing to qualify for the playoffs. Fans were visibly unhappy with the team's poor run.

KKR made the announcement on their official X (Twitter) account, stating that Pandit is stepping down to explore new opportunities. The franchise expressed gratitude for his role in building a strong and disciplined team and especially for guiding the team to victory in IPL 2024.

KKR wrote:
“Chandrakant Pandit will no longer serve as the head coach of KKR. He has chosen to pursue new opportunities. We thank him for his invaluable contributions, particularly for helping us lift the IPL 2024 trophy and instilling resilience and discipline in the squad. His leadership has left a lasting impact, and we wish him all the best for his future endeavors.”

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