Chandrakant Sitaram Pandit is an Indian former cricketer and one of the most successful coaches in the history of Indian domestic cricket. A wicketkeeper-batsman during his playing days, he represented India in Test and One Day International cricket in the 1980s and 1990s, but is best known for guiding multiple teams to Ranji Trophy titles and for his role as head coach of the Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders.
| Full name | Chandrakant Sitaram Pandit |
|---|---|
| Born | 30 September 1961, Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| Role | Wicketkeeper-batsman |
| Batting | Right-handed |
| Domestic team | Mumbai (Bombay) |
| Test debut | 1986, against Australia |
| Notable coaching roles | Mumbai, Vidarbha, Madhya Pradesh (Ranji Trophy); Kolkata Knight Riders (IPL) |
Pandit was born in Mumbai and came through the city's strong club and school cricket structure, which has historically produced a large number of India internationals. He developed as a wicketkeeper-batsman and made his first-class debut for Bombay (now Mumbai) in the early 1980s.
Pandit played five Test matches and 36 One Day Internationals for India between 1986 and 1992. His Test debut came against Australia, and he featured during a period when India's wicketkeeping position was contested between several candidates including Kiran More and Syed Kirmani.
At the domestic level, Pandit had a long and prolific first-class career for Mumbai, scoring heavily in the Ranji Trophy and contributing to several of the team's title-winning campaigns. He also captained Mumbai in domestic cricket.
After retirement, Pandit moved into coaching and quickly built a reputation as a disciplinarian known for emphasising fitness, fielding standards and mental toughness. He guided Mumbai to Ranji Trophy titles in the 2002–03 and 2003–04 seasons, and again in 2015–16.
He subsequently coached Vidarbha, leading the team to its first-ever Ranji Trophy title in 2017–18 and a successful defence of the trophy in 2018–19. He also won the Irani Cup with Vidarbha during the same period.
Pandit later took charge of Madhya Pradesh and led the side to its maiden Ranji Trophy title in the 2021–22 season, defeating Mumbai in the final. With this victory he became one of the few coaches to have won the Ranji Trophy with three different teams.
In the Indian Premier League, Pandit was appointed head coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of the 2023 season. He guided the franchise to the IPL title in 2024, adding a major Twenty20 honour to his coaching record.
Pandit is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished domestic coaches in Indian cricket. His repeated success in the Ranji Trophy with different teams, often after extended barren periods for those sides, has made him a sought-after figure in the domestic coaching circuit. His coaching style, often described as strict and process-driven, has shaped a generation of first-class cricketers in Maharashtra, Vidarbha and Madhya Pradesh.