Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and elected to bat against KKR at Eden Gardens (BCCI/IPL Photo)
New Delhi: Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane faced heavy criticism on Monday after he chose to bat first in a rain-threatened encounter against Punjab Kings at Eden Gardens. In matches with a rain forecast, captains usually prefer to play first to gain clarity on the goal in a shortened match.
However, Rahane’s decision did not go down well with many, including the legendary Anil Kumble and former Indian cricketers Ravichandran Ashwin and Saba Karim.According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the rains were caused by a depression extending from Bihar to Manipur, passing over north Bengal, Assam and Bangladesh, leading to moisture intrusion from the Bay of Bengal.
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“Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and rain may occur in most parts of south Bengal.
Scattered rain is likely across the state from Sunday to Thursday, with heaviness increasing on Tuesday and Wednesday, the IMD said.Despite these circumstances, Rahane’s decision to bat initially drew criticism from former cricketers.“I am surprised that Rahane won the toss and chose to bat first. On a field like this, where there is some rain, ideally, you would want to bowl first,” Kumble said on a JioHotstar broadcast during a rain break.
Ashwin took to social media and posted a sarcastic note.“When you know it’s going to be a rain-affected match, with an inexperienced bowling attack at your disposal, you opt to bat first. Interesting thought process. #ipl2026,” Ashwin wrote.
“I can’t understand this call,” Saba said. “I can’t wrap my head around it.”Former Bengal batsman Shrivats Goswami wrote: “Very surprised to see Rahane winning the toss and choosing to bat first in an overcast situation.
A bit of a shock there. Immediately you can see the swing and 2 stuck in the back. A very brave call. #kkr said.
Rain then interrupted Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL match against Punjab Kings, as the home team struggled at 25 for 2 in 3.4 overs amid a persistent drizzle that later intensified into a thunderstorm.Opting to bat, KKR – still searching for their first win of the season – were dealt an early shock when Xavier Bartlett scored twice in three balls.Showing excellent control of swing and seam, the Australian dismissed two of KKR’s key batsmen outside off, Finn Allen (6) and Cameron Green (4), who have been promoted to number three.Green, the highest-paid foreign player at Rs 25.20 crore, endured another poor outing, having earlier scored 18 against Mumbai Indians and 2 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, as KKR’s struggles continued after two opening losses.Skipper Rahane (8) and young wicketkeeper-batsman Angkrish Raghuvanshi (7), who has been KKR’s most consistent bowler this season with back-to-back fifties, were trying to rebuild when persistent rain forced the umpires to stop play at 7:45pm.With Eden Gardens equipped with full ground covers, the ground crew moved quickly to cover the entire field.
