If you have followed the Indian domestic scene, you may have heard about Chandrakant Pandit. Chandrakant Pandit’s achievements have changed the face of Ranji cricket, to say the least.
He was also the coach of Kolkata Knight Riders for the year 2024 when KKR won the title. Besides Chandrakant Pandit’s achievement rolls towards winning multiple Ranji Trophy titles with Vidarbha.
Chandrakant Pandit Cricket Career
It might be surprising, but Chandrakant Pandit’s achievements are not only limited to coaching. A dashing wicketkeeper-batsman, Chandrakant Pandit made his India debut in ODI against New Zealand in 1986.
During his career, the right-handed batsman played 196 innings,collecting 8209 runs in First Class (FC) cricket.
Chandrakant played both ODI and test cricket for India and made 290 and 171 runs in the format. Pandit last played international cricket in 1992. However, he had played a total of 41 international matches for India.
Chandrakant made 461 runs in international cricket, with the highest score being 39 runs. The playing career wasn’t very glorious for Chandrakant as the achievements were massively limited.
Chandrakant Pandit Salary
Being a Ranji coach and an IPL coach is very different. Chandrakant Pandit was paid Rs 3.4 crores for being the coach of Kolkata Knight Riders.
As the head coach of the Kolkata side, he went on to win the title in 2024.
On the other hand, Chandrakant’s earnings as the coach of Mumbai and Vidarbha for the Ranji teams were initially around INR 5 lakhs. Later on, he received 25 lakhs more from Mumbai Cricket Association after the team lifted the championship title.
The payment is different based on the experience, winning ratio, and status as a coach.
Chandrakant Pandit Coaching Legacy
In Chandrakant Pandit’s list of achievements, his biggest comes from being the taskmaster in the Ranji arena and as the strict coach of the Indian circuit.
Following the retirement from his cricket career as a player, Chandrakant began a cricket academy at Hansraj Morarji Public School, which started his coaching stint. There was no looking back after that.
Unlike other coaches, Pandit has a fixed set of rules and disciplines that need to be followed. Likewise, his results go in the favor of the man.
Pandit has coached teams like Mumbai and Vidarbha and led them to the Ranji titles. Chandrakant has coached the Indian U19 side and was part of the National Cricket Academy.
Chandrakant won the titles with Vidarbha in 2018 and 2019, with Madhya Pradesh in 2022, which is the first title of MP in Ranji.
The records keep coming for Chandrakant.
He has won 6 Ranji titles, including Mumbai, MP, Vidarbha, etc. His fine coaching stint was also available with Kolkata in 2024, as they won the IPL title after quite some time.
For all the styles of coaching and diverse results Chandrakant Pandit has achieved, he is also called Sir Alex Ferguson of the Ranji Trophy. Often less talkative in front of the camera, Pandit has a strict personality when it comes to coaching and results.
The biggest achievement of the coach would be helping Shreyas Iyer transition from a U19 player to the captain and leader of the Mumbai side.
