captain of kolkata knights Ajinkya Lahani He chose to bat first against Kings XI Punjab in IPL 2026 at Eden Gardens, a decision that drew sharp criticism from several former cricketers. With rain forecast and weather conditions favorable for the bowlers from the start, many expected the captain to win the toss, bowl first and take advantage of the uncertainty. Add to this the fact that Eden Gardens has historically not been the easiest venue to defend a goal total, which makes RahaneThe decision was even more surprising. KKR are also without their key spin duo Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy, their bowling attack is quite weak. Despite these factors, Rahane chose to bat, a move that immediately caught people’s attention. The decision soon came under pressure as Xavier Bartlett took advantage of the overcast conditions brilliantly, dismissing Finn Allen and Cameron Green in the same over to put KKR in trouble early. Soon after, heavy rain interrupted play and the game was ultimately abandoned with the two teams tied on points. During the rain break, former India captain Anil Kumble Publicly question the call. “I was surprised that Rahane won the toss and chose to bat first. On a pitch like this, with some rain around, ideally you would want to bat first,” Kumble said. Former elector Saba Karim echoed similar confusion, adding: “I can’t understand the call. I can’t understand it.” Former spinner Ravichandran Ashwin also took to social media to criticize the thinking behind the decision.
ashwin post
“When you know it’s going to be a rain-affected game and you have access to an inexperienced bowling attack, you choose to bat first. Interesting thought process. #ipl2026. “ KKR were 25/2 before heavy rain interrupted play, with Bartlett’s sharp spell putting them at a disadvantage. The interruption may have brought relief to KKR and frustration to PBKS, who had started strongly. The abandoned match meant both sides had the same scoreline, with Punjab continuing their strong run in the tournament while KKR slipped further after another poor showing.
