Gautam Gambhir reacts to Chandrakant Pandit accusations

KKR mentor Gautam Gambhir has backed coach Chandrakant Pandit ahead of their next game against Lucknow Super Giants on Sunday at Eden Gardens.

KKR are heading into this match after a loss to Chennai Super Kings in their previous match. They started their campaign with three consecutive wins and also scored the second-highest total of the tournament.

However, the loss to the CSK game was a big blow as the batters did not fire and 137 was not a big total for their bowlers to defend. Heading into their next match they have injury concerns with Harshit Rana and Nitish Rana. While Nitiis is suffering from a finger injury, Harshit is struggling with a shoulder niggle. As per reports, both might not be fit for the next game against LSG.

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In between all these concerns for the management, KKR mentor Gautam Gambhir has rubbished rumors of criticism against KKR head coach Chandrakant Pandit. He joined the franchise in 2022. He coached the Vidarbha cricket team to two successive Ranji Trophy triumphs in 2018 and 2019. He has not yet transferred his domestic success into the IPL.

KKR finished seventh under him in IPL 2022 and 2023 winning just 12 games in total in the last two years. He has a reputation of being who comes out as a strict and fairly militant type of coach, a strict disciplinarian.

"He (Chandrakant) is 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 them how to behave what to wear and what to do. I was chill with it, but there were players more stubborn than me" Wiese said on Hitman for Hire podcast.

Not Heard About Any Criticism: Gautam Gambhir On Chandrakant Pandit

Gambhir though has dismissed all criticisms saying that he has not heard anything of that sort. He further said that his relationship on the field so far with him has been fruitful and will continue to build on it.

"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."

KKR's loss to CSK did hurt the Kolkata Knight Riders mentor. He paid a visit to Kolkata’s renowned Kalighat temple ahead of their upcoming match against Lucknow Super Giants at Eden Garden Stadium on Sunday, April 14.

He has also backed the under-fire Mitchell Starc who has not had the returns he would have liked for KKR. The 24.75 crore man. He has leked runs at an average of 77 and an economy rate of 11.

"It (his poor stats) doesn't matter, T20 cricket is all about bowlers getting smashed. We've got three wins out of four," Gambhir said on Starc.

“In a team sport, it's the wins that matter. We have got three wins out of four. Why should I not be happy with anyone's performance? See, people have bad and good days, ultimately, it's the team that needs to win. "And we've got decent results in the first four games of the competition. And we all know how big a threat Mitchell Starc is. Four games don't make him a bad bowler" he further said to TOI.