IPL 2025: Is Chandrakant Pandit Running Out of Time as KKR Coach Amid Tumultuous Season?

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As Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) gear up to face Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, all eyes are not just on their playoff hopes, but also on head coach Chandrakant Pandit, who finds himself under increasing scrutiny.

With the defending champions languishing at seventh on the points table, questions are mounting over Pandit's rigid style and his ability to rally the squad in a do-or-die phase. Pandit, long regarded as an old-school disciplinarian, reportedly hasn't seen eye to eye with some players.

Back in 2023, former South Africa and Namibia cricketer David Wiese described him as "a very militant type of coach" on a podcast. While KKR refrained from sacking him after a disappointing seventh-place finish last year, they did bring in Gautam Gambhir as mentor, effectively pushing Pandit to the sidelines.

Gambhir's arrival had an immediate effect. Under his mentorship, KKR clinched the IPL 2024 title, with players like Andre Russell and Sunil Narine publicly praising the relaxed and empowering atmosphere. This season, however, Gambhir has moved on to become India's head coach, and the team seems to be missing his influence.

"All the support staff is basically the same and even Nayar bhai is back. But yes, there is a thrill factor that I miss a little (due to Gambhir's absence) - speaking just for myself, not anyone else," admitted Harshit Rana during the pre-match press conference. "He (Gambhir) has an aura in the way he carries the team forward."

Harshit Rana, who has taken 11 wickets in nine matches this season, is KKR's joint-highest wicket-taker but still feels his best is yet to come. "I am not that much happy with my performance... I hope that in the next five games, I will go and do better," he said, also stressing the importance of adapting to slow pitches like the one in Delhi.

KKR's campaign has been anything but smooth. With just three wins, five defeats, and one no-result, they now need to win all five remaining matches to secure a playoff berth. While the KKR management has historically shown patience, RevSportz reports that Pandit effectively has five games to save his job.

Signs of discontent are visible. Team mentor Dwayne Bravo recently said the batting unit has "lost confidence." And according to sources, Pandit's micromanaging-such as questioning an overseas player for dining with a rival team member-has caused friction.

In response, KKR moved swiftly to bring back Abhishek Nayar after his stint as India's assistant coach ended. Nayar has taken an active role in training, and whispers suggest he may be in line for a more prominent position if the team doesn't turn things around.

Former captain Eoin Morgan, who led KKR to the 2021 final, has also been loosely linked to a possible leadership role next season. Whether KKR can once again pull off a late-season surge remains uncertain-but for Chandrakant Pandit, the clock is ticking louder than ever.