Chandrakant Pandit, known as “Chandu”. He is a former Indian cricketer who played in 5 Test matches and 36 One Day Internationals (ODIs) from 1986 to 1992.

He born on September 30, 1961, in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Pandit was a wicket-keeper batsman during his playing days.

Chandrakant Pandit: Cricket Career

• Test Debut: Pandit made his Test debut against England at Headingley, Leeds, on June 19, 1986. India won the series 2–0.
• ODI Debut: His ODI debut was against New Zealand in the Austral-Asia Cup at Sharjah on April 10, 1986.
• World Cup: Pandit was part of India’s World Cup squad for the 1987 Cricket World Cup.
• Asia Cup: He was also a member of the Indian squad that won the 1988 Asia Cup.

Chandrakant Pandit: Coaching Success

• Cricket Academy: After retiring from international cricket, Pandit established a cricket academy at his alma mater, the Hansraj Morarji Public School.
• Mumbai Cricket Team: As a coach, he achieved success with several teams. Notably, he coached the Mumbai cricket team.
• Ranji Trophy Triumphs: Pandit led the Vidarbha cricket team to two successive Ranji Trophy triumphs in 2018 and 2019.
• Madhya Pradesh’s First Title: Under his guidance, the Madhya Pradesh team secured its first-ever Ranji Trophy title in 2022.
• IPL Head Coach: In 2022, Chandrakant Pandit was appointed as the head coach for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
• IPL Victory: In 2024, after a decade, KKR clinched the IPL trophy under Pandit’s coaching.

Chandrakant Pandit’s journey from a cricketer to a successful coach exemplifies his dedication and contribution to Indian cricket.

His impact on both the domestic and IPL circuits has been significant, and his coaching methods continue to inspire young talents.