Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) player David Wiese revealed about the things that happened inside the franchise’s locker room during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. He said that some things from head coach Chandrakant Pandit did not go well with many players and problems were also going.
Kolkata Knight Riders had a torrid run in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 as they failed to advance at all in the tournament. The team, missing regular captain Shreyas Iyer, won only six matches in 14 matches and finished seventh in the points table under the leadership of Nitish Rana.
For the second time in a row, KKR failed to qualify for the playoffs. Head coach Chandrakant Pandit, who has had great success in domestic cricket, was expected to do something similar for the franchise but he couldn’t as he too came under the scanner.
Many criticized Chandrakant Pandit for his old-fashioned approach. There were some reports claiming that some players were unhappy with the way he treated them. Now, a year later, David Wiese has revealed some shocking things about the national veteran.
David Wiese revealed that behind the scenes during the last season, there were a lot of problems at KKR during IPL 2023. He said that the dressing room seemed difficult for some players as Chandrakant Pandit’s coaching style did not suit them well. . Speaking on the Hitman for Hire: A Year in the Life of a Franchise Cricketer podcast hosted by Sam Keir, he said:
“Certain problems were happening behind the scenes in the team. The guys weren’t happy with certain things that were happening and, a lot of times, it was a difficult locker room. “A new coach was coming in and he liked to do things a certain way, and that didn’t sit well with the players.”
David Wiese played three matches for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League 2023. The all-rounder scored 21 runs at a strike rate of 190.91. With the ball, he could not contribute because he failed to take a single wicket.
Foreign players don’t need someone to come and tell them how to behave – David Wiese on Chandrakant Pandit
David Wiese launched a fresh attack on Chandrakant Pandit and revealed that the players were frustrated because the methods the coach applied did not suit them. Although he admitted that Pandit is strict, he claimed that foreign players do not need someone to tell them how to behave. He added:
“The guys were frustrated because a lot of things changed and the coach introduced things that he thought would bring success. But as a foreign player, he sometimes doesn’t suit them well. In India he is known as a rather militant and strict disciplinarian coach.
“Foreign guys who have played all over the world don’t need someone to come and tell them how to behave, what to wear and what to do. “I felt calm, but there were players more stubborn than me.”
In the ongoing edition of the IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders have started well. They defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad in their first game. The Shreyas Iyer-led team will now be seen in action when they take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday, March 29.