Andre Russell rallies behind KKR coach Chandrakant Pandit after militant remark by David Wiese
After former South African and Namibian all-rounder David Wiese recently claimed that overseas cricketers were unhappy with KKR coaching under Chandrakant Pandit, star all-rounder Andre Russell refuted the allegations. Wiese, who briefly played for KKR last season, said players felt frustrated by Pandit’s strict coaching style, especially regarding conduct and dress code.
Wiese recently stated in the podcast ‘Hitman for Hire: A year in the life of a franchise cricketer’ that Pandit has a reputation in India as a strict disciplinarian who coaches in a very militant style.
“In franchise cricket, overseas players who have competed globally may not require constant oversight on conduct, attire, and responsibilities. This authority can prove challenging.”
When asked on Thursday for his reaction ahead of KKR’s away match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Russell said that the players were happy with Pandit.
“Having worked with him last year, we got to know his personality well, which made things much easier for us this time around.” said Russell.
“In your first year working with a coach, it’s important to have trust in their philosophy and approach. As professionals, we need to follow certain standards and practices. So far, things have been going well in working with my coach.”
Pandit’s appointment as head coach of Kolkata Knight Riders sparked high hopes as he took over from Brendon McCullum in 2023. With an impressive track record in domestic cricket, Pandit guided Madhya Pradesh to a Ranji Trophy title and steered Vidarbha to back-to-back wins in 2018 and 2019. His proven coaching talent has garnered considerable attention.
KKR defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by four runs in a high-scoring thriller in Kolkata last week to start the season on a winning note. Now, the team travels to Bengaluru, aiming to be the first to win an away victory this season.
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