Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) head coach Chandrakant Pandit has called on his team to block out the surrounding noise and concentrate on their performance ahead of their high-stakes clash against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025).
The match, set against the backdrop of fervent speculation about it potentially being a farewell for CSK legend MS Dhoni, who might be playing his last match at the Eden Gardens, has sparked widespread excitement among fans and media. However, Pandit remains steadfast in his belief that his players can rise above the distractions and deliver on the field.
Speaking to reporters on the eve of the much-anticipated clash, Pandit stressed the importance of tuning out the hype surrounding the match.
"During these kinds of games, every player and every team is always focused on their own game. I mean, that’s sometimes like, if a batter is batting and there is so much noise around and if you ask that batter, probably he will say that 'I didn’t hear anything about it,'" Pandit said as quoted in the pre-match presser.
The IPL-winning coach drew from his own experiences to further illustrate his point, recalling how he managed distractions during his playing days.
"It was the same case with me when people used to tell me so much noise around and how you can focus. But sometimes we just ignore that noise automatically. So, obviously when you are focused on the game, it does not matter so much if you ask me," he added.
When asked if KKR is feeling the pressure of the high-profile encounter that is crucial for them to remain in the hunt for the playoffs, Pandit dismissed the notion, expressing confidence in his players’ abilities.
"Not really (feeling the pressure). I don’t want to go back. We always believe that we have the best batting lineup, it unfortunately didn’t click. Hope it will do justice in the next three games. We know the ability of every individual player. We believe in them. To maintain that, you have to give them a lot of confidence, make sure they believe in themselves," Pandit concluded.
KKR Face CSK in Must-Win Clash
The match against CSK is particularly significant as KKR’s playoff hopes are on thin ice. With 11 points from 11 games, the Ajinkya Rahane-led side must win their remaining three matches to reach 17 points, which may still require favorable results elsewhere to secure a top-four finish.
KKR defeated Rajasthan Royals (RR) in their last match by one run.
Meanwhile, CSK has already been eliminated from playoff contention, becoming the first team to exit the IPL 2025 race after a string of losses, including a recent defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
With only 4 points after 11 games, the five-time champions are out of the running but remain a formidable opponent. Under Dhoni’s leadership, CSK will be eager to salvage pride and spoil KKR’s playoff aspirations.
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