Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane (ANI Photo) Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane has come under intense scrutiny after opting to bat first against Punjab Kings in their IPL 2026 clash at the Eden Gardens, a decision that drew sharp criticism from several former cricketers. With rain forecast and conditions heavily favoring the bowlers early on, many expected the toss-winning captain to field first and take advantage of the uncertainty. Add to that the fact that Eden Gardens has historically not been the easiest place 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 weak. Despite these factors, Rahane opted to bat, a move that immediately raised eyebrows. The decider quickly came under pressure as Xavier Bartlett made superb use of overcast conditions to simultaneously dismiss Finn Allen and Cameron Green to give KKR an early recovery. Soon after, play was interrupted by rain and the match was eventually called off with both teams sharing a point. During the rain break, former Indian captain Anil Kumble openly disputed the call. “I’m surprised that Rahane won the toss and decided to bat first. On a pitch like this where there’s a bit of rain around, ideally you’d want to bat first,” Kumble said. Former selector Saba Karim added in similar confusion: “I don’t understand this call. I can’t wrap my head around it.” Former spinner Ravichandran Ashwin also took to social media and criticized the thinking behind the decision.
Ashwin’s post
“When you know it’s going to be a rain-affected game, with an inexperienced bowling attack at your disposal, you decide to bat first. Interesting thought process. #ipl2026.” KKR were struggling at 25/2 before rain halted progress, with Bartlett’s incisive spell putting them on the back foot. The break might have come as a relief for KKR, while PBKS, who had started strongly, were left frustrated. The abandoned game meant the two sides shared the points, with Punjab continuing their strong run in the tournament, while KKR slipped further down the table after another crushing outing.
