{"id":787,"date":"2026-04-06T17:04:46","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T17:04:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/1win.za.com\/ipl\/rahane-faces-backlash-for-opting-to-bat-first-in-rain-hit-kkr-vs-pbks-match"},"modified":"2026-04-06T17:04:46","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T17:04:46","slug":"rahane-faces-backlash-for-opting-to-bat-first-in-rain-hit-kkr-vs-pbks-match","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/1win.za.com\/ipl\/rahane-faces-backlash-for-opting-to-bat-first-in-rain-hit-kkr-vs-pbks-match","title":{"rendered":"Rahane Faces Backlash for Opting to Bat First in Rain-Hit KKR vs PBKS Match"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane came under sharp criticism on Monday after choosing to bat first in a rain-threatened Indian Premier League encounter against Punjab Kings at Eden Gardens. With weather forecasts suggesting reduced conditions and a potential shortened contest, captains often prefer to field initially to better gauge the chase. Rahane\u2019s call, however, sparked debate across cricket circles, drawing reactions from former India great Anil Kumble and ex-players Ravichandran Ashwin and Saba Karim.<\/p>\n

Weather warning before the toss<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) pointed to rain triggered by a low-pressure trough running from Bihar to Manipur.<\/li>\n
  2. The system was described as passing over North Bengal, Assam and Bangladesh, bringing in moisture from the Bay of Bengal.<\/li>\n
  3. The IMD forecast highlighted the likelihood of thunderstorms with lightning and rainfall across most districts of South Bengal.<\/li>\n
  4. It also expected scattered showers from Sunday to Thursday, with the wettest period projected for Tuesday and Wednesday.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Even with the forecast in mind, Rahane\u2019s decision to bat first drew immediate scrutiny from Kumble. Speaking during the rain pause on JioHotstar, Kumble said he was surprised by the toss outcome and the batting choice, adding that a pitch with some rain around typically suits the idea of chasing clarity\u2014meaning fielding first would be the more sensible approach.<\/p>\n

    Ashwin then added to the controversy with a sarcastic post on social media. He wrote that when a match is expected to be affected by rain and the side still has an inexperienced bowling unit to work with, opting to bat first is an intriguing choice of strategy. Saba Karim, meanwhile, said he struggled to understand the logic behind the call, describing it as difficult to process.<\/p>\n

    Former Bengal batter Shreevats Goswami also weighed in, stating he was taken aback to see Rahane win the toss and elect to bat on an overcast surface. Goswami noted that early signs of movement\u2014swing and dismissals like caught-behind chances\u2014were visible, calling it a bold decision. His post also carried a direct nod to KKR.<\/p>\n

    Match disruption at Eden Gardens<\/h2>\n

    As the game progressed, rain interrupted the KKR vs Punjab Kings contest. The home side were struggling at 25 for 2 in 3.4 overs when drizzle settled in, later escalating into a thunderstorm. KKR, still searching for their first league win of the season, were punished early after opting to bat.<\/p>\n

    Xavier Bartlett made an immediate impact, striking twice within three balls to derail KKR\u2019s top order. His control through both swing and seam meant he removed two key overseas batters\u2014Finn Allen for 6 and Cameron Green for 4\u2014both of whom had been promoted to No. 3 in the batting order.<\/p>\n

    Green, who is the highest-paid overseas player at \u20b925.20 crore, endured another tough day with the bat. Prior to this match, he had managed 18 against Mumbai Indians and 2 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, and KKR\u2019s early troubles continued as the weather worsened.<\/p>\n

    With Rahane on 8 and wicketkeeper-batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi on 7, KKR attempted to rebuild. Raghuvanshi has been KKR\u2019s most consistent performer this season, including a run of back-to-back fifties, but the persistent drizzle forced the umpires to stop play at 7:45 pm.<\/p>\n

    Despite Eden Gardens being prepared with full ground covers, the groundstaff acted quickly, moving to blanket the entire playing area as the conditions deteriorated further.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane came under sharp criticism on Monday after choosing to bat first in a rain-threatened Indian Premier League encounter against…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":786,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"IPL 2024: Rahane Criticised for Batting First vs PBKS","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Rahane\u2019s decision to bat first under rain threats vs PBKS sparks backlash in IPL 2024, with fans and former stars questioning KKR\u2019s strategy.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-787","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\nIPL 2024: Rahane Criticised for Batting First vs PBKS<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Rahane\u2019s decision to bat first under rain threats vs PBKS sparks backlash in IPL 2024, with fans and former stars 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