New Delhi: Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane He faced heavy criticism on Monday after opting to bat first in the rain-threatened clash against Punjab Kings at the Eden Gardens. In rain-forecasted matches, captains usually prefer fielding first to be clear on the target in the short game. However, Rahane’s decision did not sit well with many, including legend Anil Kumble and former Indian cricketers Ravichandran Ashwin and Saba Karim.According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the rains originated from a low pressure trough extending from Bihar to Manipur, passing over North Bengal, Assam and Bangladesh, which brought moisture from the Bay of Bengal side.“Most districts of South Bengal may experience thundershowers with thundershowers. From Sunday to Thursday, scattered rain is likely over the state, with more intensity on Tuesday and Wednesday,” the IMD said.Despite these circumstances, Rahane’s decision to bat first was criticized by former cricketers.“I am surprised that Rahane won the toss and chose to bat first. On a pitch like this, where there is some rain, ideally, you would want to field first,” Kumble said on JioHotstar broadcast during the rain break.Ashwin posted a sarcastic comment on social media.“When you know it’s going to be a rain-hit game, with an inexperienced bowling attack at your disposal, you choose to bat first. Interesting thought process. #ipl2026,” Ashwin wrote.“I can’t understand the call. I can’t wrap my head around it,” Saba said.Former Bengal batsman Shrivath Goswami wrote: “Wonderful to see Rahane win the toss and elect to bat first in cloudy conditions. A bit of a shocker there. Immediately you can see the swing and 2 catches back. A very brave call. #kkr,” he said.Rain then disrupted Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL match against Punjab Kings, with the home side struggling to 25 for 2 in 3.4 overs, which was later intensified by thunderstorms.Electing to bat, KKR – still looking for their first win of the season – suffered a shock when Xavier Bartlett struck twice in three balls.Showing excellent control over the swing and seam, the Aussie fast bowler dismissed KKR’s two key overseas batsmen, Finn Allen (6) and Cameron Green (4), who were promoted to No.3.Green, the highest-paid overseas player at Rs 25.20 crore, had another poor performance, having earlier scored 18 against Mumbai Indians and 2 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, as KKR’s struggles continued after two early losses.Skipper Rahane (8) and young wicketkeeper-batsman Angkresh Raghuvanshi (7), who have been KKR’s most consistent performers this season with back-to-back fifties, were looking to rebuild when persistent drizzle forced the umpires to call off play at 7:45.With Eden Gardens equipped with a full ground cover, the ground staff quickly moved to cover the entire ground.
