Chandu `Guru’ Pandit Has Played His Part For KKR!

Gautam Gambhir is hogging all the limelight mentoring Shah Rukh Khan’s IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders, into the final of the World’s most acclaimed Twenty20 league for the third time. The former Delhi left-hander, who played pivotal in India’s splendid 2011 ICC World Cup win against Sri Lanka in the final at the Wankhede Stadium, led KKR to IPL title triumphs in 2012 and 2014. So it is happy tidings for KKR, which has entered the title match in grand style, disposing of Rajasthan Royals in the qualifier 1 in Mumbai. While Gambhir deserves all the accolades, the team’s Chief Coach, Chandrakant Pandit, has, without making all the noise, guided the team’s Indian component and also shared knowledge with the overseas players. After playing, Pandit plunged into coaching; having learned the art of leadership and coaching from the former Mafatlal and Mumbai captain Ashok Mankad. Likeable but tough, Pandit has shown cricketers from Mumbai, Vidarbha and Madhya Pradesh how to play a long multiple-day Ranji Trophy league and win the title.  He has also coached the teams of Maharashtra and Kerala.  Last year, KKR finished seventh in the league, but this season, it has stunned one and all, topping the leaderboard and winning the first playoff with Shreyas Iyer at the helm. Pandit is 62 and cannot even think of a role with India’s national team. But the smart cricketer raised in the Mumbai maidans and in the Mumbai dressing room filled with legends of Indian cricket would be a happy man. Winning the title on Sunday (May 26) will make him doubly happy and bring joy to his dear and near ones.