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Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane found himself under intense scrutiny after opting to bat first against Punjab Kings in their IPL 2026 clash at Eden Gardens, a decision that drew sharp criticism from several former cricketers. With rain forecast and conditions heavily favouring bowlers early on, many expected the captain winning the toss to field first and take advantage of the uncertainty. Adding to that, Eden Gardens has historically not been the easiest venue to defend totals, making Rahane’s decision all the more surprising. KKR were also without their key spin duo of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy, leaving their bowling attack considerably thin. Despite these factors, Rahane chose to bat, a move that immediately raised eyebrows. The decision quickly came under pressure as Xavier Bartlett exploited the overcast conditions brilliantly, dismissing Finn Allen and Cameron Green in the same over to leave KKR reeling early. Soon after, rain interrupted play, and the match was eventually abandoned with both teams sharing a point. During the rain break, former India captain Anil Kumble openly questioned the call. “I am surprised that Rahane won the toss and chose to bat first. On a pitch like this, where there’s some rain around, ideally, you would want to field first,” Kumble said. Echoing similar confusion, former selector Saba Karim added, “I cannot understand this call. I cannot wrap my head around it.” Former spinner Ravichandran Ashwin also weighed in on social media, criticising the thinking behind the decision.
Ashwin post
“When you know it’s going to be a rain-affected game, with an inexperienced bowling attack at your disposal, you choose to bat first. Interesting thought process. #ipl2026.” Before the rain halted proceedings, KKR were struggling at 25/2, with Bartlett’s incisive spell putting them on the back foot. The interruption may have come as a relief for KKR, while PBKS, who had started strongly, were left frustrated. The abandoned game meant both sides shared points, with Punjab continuing their strong run in the tournament, while KKR slipped further down the table after another underwhelming outing.
