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KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane opted to bat first after winning the toss against Punjab Kings in IPL 2026 at Eden Gardens, despite the overcast conditions. KKR were 25/2 after 3.4 overs when rain stopped play.
Ajinkya Rahane (L) and Shreyas Iyer during the coin toss in Kolkata in IPL 2026. Ajinkya Rahane welcomed severe social media backlash on Monday after the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain won the toss and chose to bat first under overcast conditions during their match against Punjab Kings at Eden Gardens. Having lost both of their matches so far, pressure is on KKR and Rahane to get back to winning ways.
After the practice session on Sunday evening was cancelled, there were forecasts of rain already on Monday as both teams arrived at the stadium under heavy cloud cover. However, Rahane's decision to bat first after winning the toss surprised many.
With a the pitch having a little bit of grass on it, Xavier Bartlett made most use of the conditions by taking the wickets of Cameron Green and Finn Allen. Expectedly, the rain came down just after 3.4 overs with KKR's score reading at 25/2 around 7:50 PM IST.
Rahane's decision didn't go well with the KKR fans on social media as they called for the Indian batter step down from leadership. “Ajinkya Rahane you better step down from captaincy. Pitch under covers, you won the toss and you elected to bat first ???? Even a small boy would have bowled first in such conditions. We are done if Rahane is in the team. KKR management don't destroy the legacy of KKR please,” one user wrote.
“Record speaks a lot about Captain Ajinkya Rahane… Don’t know what KKR Management saw in him and made him Captain the Defending Champions…” another wrote. “Ajinkya Rahane traumatized cricket today. Everyone wants to know, why he chose to bat when he knew that rain will interrupt the game,” another said.
'Interesting thought process' - Ravi Ashwin
Not just the fans, even Rahane's for India teammate Ravichandran Ashwin was also taken aback by the KKR captain's decision. Calling Rahane's thought-process interesting, Ashwin pointed out the inexperienced bowling attack of KKR. "When you know it’s going to be a rain affected game, with an inexperienced bowling attack at your disposal, you choose to bat first.
“Interesting thought process,” wrote Ashwin on X. Earlier at the toss, Rahane reasoned the dry nature of the wicket for opting to bat first. “We are going to bat first. Looks a good wicket, little bit on the drier side but it's a very good wicket and slightly less covering of grass as well. That’s the reason to put the runs on the board first,” Rahane told toss presenter Danny Morrison.
Catch the live updates from IPL 2026 with the complete IPL 2026 Schedule and the IPL 2026 Points Table. Also, know who are currently leading the charts in IPL 2026 Orange Cap and IPL 2026 Purple Cap.
About the Author
Koushik Paul
Koushik lives and breathes sports. After transitioning from his own aspirations of becoming a professional athlete, he successfully channeled that lifelong passion into a prolific career, documenting the action both from the sidelines and the editorial desk. With over eight years of industry experience, Koushik joined LiveMint as a Deputy Chief Content Producer in 2024, following impactful stints at Outlook India, India.com, Sportskeeda, Women’s CricZone, and OrissaPOST. A 2017 Journalism and Mass Communication graduate from Maharaja Manindra Chandra College, Kolkata, Koushik has reported on high-profile events including the FIFA U17 World Cup 2017, Ranji Trophy, FIH Pro League, FIH World League finals, the Indian Premier League, and Lionel Messi’s historic visit to Kolkata in 2025. <br><br> While he possesses a versatile command over all sports, he finds his niche in cricket, specializing in breaking news, long-form interviews, global sporting updates, and high-energy live blogs. Koushik’s professional perspective was further sharpened through the 2020 AIPS Young Reporters Programme, where he gained invaluable insights from renowned international journalists, including Keir Radnedge and Riccardo Romani from the United Kingdom, and Martin Mazur from Argentina. Currently based between Kolkata and Delhi, Koushik remains at the forefront of the breaking developments that shape the public sporting discourse. When he isn't tracking scores or deconstructing plays, he can be found exploring new landscapes on his travels or channeling his creative energy into the kitchen. <br><br> If you have a compelling story to share or know an individual who deserves the spotlight, please reach out via email at <a href="koushik.paul@htdigital.in">koushik.paul@htdigital.in</a>.
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