Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) head coach Chandrakant Pandit looked unfazed over expected MS Dhoni chants in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 game against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the iconic Eden Gardens on May 7. Several reports have surfaced which claim Dhoni might bid farewell to IPL following the game against reigning champions at the iconic venue. With these reports, Dhoni fans are expected to assemble at the stadium in large numbers, which might result in CSK getting massive support from the local Kolkata crowd.
However, Chandrakant has shown belief in his players as he feels his boys won’t be intimidated by the likely support of CSK and MS Dhoni. “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, ‘I didn’t hear anything about it',” said Pandit at a press conference.
He also added, “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.”
CSK will look to wreck KKR’s chances for playoffs
With CSK already out of playoffs contention, they will look to impact Kolkata’s chances to advance for the playoffs. With the stiff competition in the tournament, defending champions will have to win their remaining three matches to conclude the round-robin stage at top four and reach the next round.
KKR are currently sixth on the points tally with 11 points earned through six wins and one no-result match in 11 outings. Chennai, on the other hand, are placed at the bottom of the table with only two wins and nine defeats in their 11 matches.
