IPL 2025 | "We must continue to carry that confidence, going forward": KKR head coach Chandrakant Pandit

KKR players celebrate their victory over RR at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on May 4. Pic/AFP

As the IPL-18 resumes on Saturday, May 17 with defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) taking on the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, KKR head coach Chandrakant Pandit wants his team to re-focus their energies on ensuring a winning restart.

KKR in sixth place

After 12 matches KKR are in sixth place in the 10-team table with 11 points, needing to win both their remaining matches to have any chance of making the Playoffs. RCB, on the other hand, are comfortably placed second with 16 points from 11 games.

Also Read: Djoko ends it with murray!

Chandrakant Pandit

Coach Pandit has a special message for the Ajinkya Rahane-led outfit. "We've always been one of the good teams in the tournament so we must continue to carry that confidence, going forward. The players just have to refocus and play to their potential. As a team, we need to pay attention to one game at a time rather than think about what's going to happen in the future. We should not be thinking about what's happening with the other teams. It's most important for us to win these two games, so that's what our focus should be," Pandit told mid-day on Tuesday.

After the RCB fixture, KKR will face Sunrisers Hyderabad in their last league game in New Delhi on May 25.

"Only after winning this first game, should we keep an eye on the next one. At the moment now, play for your reputation, play for the legacy of this franchise. It's our duty to carry forward that legacy and try to finish the tournament well," added Pandit.

On May 8, the Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals match was called off due to growing border tension between India and Pakistan. The BCCI announced a week's suspension but as both countries thereafter have agreed on a ceasefire, the tournament the cash-rich tournament is set to continue.

Pandit, a former India wicketkeeper-batsman, expressed his gratitude towards Indian armed forces, the government and the BCCI for handling the situation appropriately. "All credit goes to the government, our Indian Army and the BCCI to resume IPL again because all three of them have played a crucial role in handling the tense situation. This [resumption] is a positive step and a big boost for cricketers and fans all over the world," Pandit remarked.

Players still motivated

Pandit revealed how KKR managed to keep their players motivated during week-long break. "[KKR CEO] Venky Mysore has been regularly in touch with me as well as with our players and giving us updates about the situation. The focus for everyone was to mentally prepare and be ready for the next step. The players have waited patiently and are eager to come back to the ground," said Pandit, adding that all KKR players will be available for the remainder of
the tournament.

The KKR players will assemble in Bangalore on Wednesday for a practice session and Pandit admitted it will be a challenge not just for his team but for the other teams too, to get that momentum back. "To bring back that momentum is a big challenge for every team. The teams, who have been doing well, will have the confidence but for teams like us, we have to win the remaining two games but also depend on others to lose, so it's tricky. Quickly adapting to the situation and the conditions will be key. It's important to be optimistic because our team performed well earlier and we were champions last season, and it's the same players who contributed to that triumph," Pandit signed off.