KKR head coach Chandrakant Pandit: Mumbai Indians’ home advantage not easy to tackle

Chandrakant Pandit, the head coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders, talked with assurance prior to their match against the Mumbai Indians on Monday, March 31 at the Wankhede Stadium.

Following an outstanding eight-wicket victory over the Rajasthan Royals in their previous game in Guwahati, this will be KKR’s third IPL 2025 contest. The Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, have lost their first two games of the season and are looking for form.

While acknowledging that Jasprit Bumrah would be missed, Pandit warned against undervaluing the remaining members of the Mumbai Indians’ bowling lineup.

“Bumrah makes a difference to Mumbai Indians, but their other bowlers are also quite capable,” Pandit stated.

The coach of KKR thinks his team may take advantage of Mumbai’s bad start, but he would be cautious about home advantage.

“My attention is mostly on our team’s performance in the most recent game. We have an additional edge to exert pressure on the Mumbai Indians since they haven’t been playing at that level, unfortunately. We have been preparing for the fact that we would have to swiftly adjust to the conditions here because the game is being played in Mumbai. “I have no doubt that we can accomplish that,” he remarked.

Pandit spoke highly of Rahane’s leadership, highlighting his captain’s capacity to maintain composure under duress.

“The powers of Rahane are known to all. In addition to leading KKR, he has captained India and the Mumbai team. He has a variety of leadership philosophies and techniques. He had a fantastic season on the home circuit as well, and our opening match demonstrated his confidence. The crew has a lot of respect for him. He is especially praised for his ability to remain composed and calm in the face of adversity,” Pandit said.

The coach was especially pleased with Quinton de Kock’s recent performance, which saw him lead the team to victory with an undefeated score of 97. According to head coach Pandit, the club gains significant momentum from his aggressive powerplay style.

Quinton’s performance thus far in this competition has been outstanding. His degree of confidence is astounding, particularly when it comes to T20 cricket. It helps the team as a whole to have someone who can attack in the first six overs. Pandit said, “That’s the quality he brings.”

Sunil Narine, a standout for KKR, has fully recovered from his injury and will be ready for selection after working out with the squad, according to head coach Pandit.

KKR’s matchup at Wankhede on Monday looks to be an exciting early-season IPL 2025 match as they want to keep up their winning streak against a struggling Mumbai Indians program.