Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane faced sharp backlash after choosing to bat first in the IPL 2026 clash against Punjab Kings at Eden Gardens on Monday. The decision quickly drew criticism from prominent voices in cricket, including Anil Kumble and Ravichandran Ashwin, with many pointing to the weather forecast, the nature of the venue, and KKR’s thin bowling resources for the match.
Why the decision to bat first raised eyebrows
Rahane’s call to bat first looked even more questionable given the build-up to the game. With rain expected around the contest, traditional thinking would have leaned toward bowling first after winning the toss, since the side batting second could potentially chase a revised target if overs were reduced.
There was also the Eden Gardens factor. The ground is widely known to be challenging for teams defending totals, so opting to set a target first on such a surface added to the surprise among pundits and former players.
KKR’s bowling concerns and the rain-affected turnaround
The criticism intensified because KKR entered the match without their spin duo of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy. With the bowling unit considered understrength, many expected Rahane to choose to bowl first and use the conditions to their advantage.
Instead, Rahane’s plan backfired almost immediately in terms of what the match conditions offered. Xavier Bartlett struck early under overcast skies, removing Finn Allen and Cameron Green in the same over. Not long after, rain began to fall heavily, forcing the game to be stopped.
What Anil Kumble, Saba Karim, and Ravichandran Ashwin said
During the rain break, Kumble and Saba Karim questioned Rahane’s logic for electing to bat in those circumstances. Their comments centered on the idea that fielding first would have been the smarter approach, especially when the pitch and weather conditions were expected to influence proceedings.
- Anil Kumble said he was “surprised” Rahane won the toss and chose to bat first, adding that on a pitch with rain around, the captain would ideally prefer to field first.
- Saba Karim said he “cannot understand this call” and struggled to make sense of the decision to bat first.
- Ravichandran Ashwin echoed the same viewpoint, describing KKR’s thought process as “interesting” after they opted to bat first in a rain-affected situation with an inexperienced bowling attack.
Sreevats Goswami reacts, and KKR’s season context
Former Bengal batter Sreevats Goswami also voiced his displeasure, describing Rahane’s decision as a shock after the toss, particularly because swing appeared immediately under the overcast conditions. Goswami suggested the early movement led to dismissals, including two caught-behind chances.
- Sreevats Goswami said he was “very surprised” to see Rahane win the toss and bat first on an overcast day, noting that swing was visible and that there were two caught-behind opportunities.
- He added that it was a “very very brave call,” even as he questioned the timing and match-up logic.
Rahane has also been making headlines during IPL 2026 for being more combative than his usual style. After KKR’s defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad, the right-handed batter hit back at critics, claiming they were “jealous” of him.
Going into this contest, the Knight Riders had already lost their first two matches of the season, falling to the Mumbai Indians and the Sunrisers.
