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Ajinkya Rahane Under Fire for Toss Call as Kolkata Knight Riders Opt to Bat in Rain Threat
KKR vs PBKS: KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane is facing criticism for his surprising strategy against Punjab Kings. Even though the match was washed out due to rain, his decision to bat first after winning the toss at Eden Gardens is being questioned.
The Captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Ajinkya Rahane, was criticized for opting to bat first on Monday during their clash with Punjab Kings at Eden Gardens. Various experts, including Anil Kumble and Ravichandran Ashwin, pointed out that the decision was not prudent due to the probability of rain. In the event of rain, the captain of the winning side always opts to field first since it helps set a target. Moreover, Eden Gardens is generally known to be a challenging ground for defending a total. Thus, the decision made by Rahane has been questioned.
During the Punjab Kings' match, the spinners, namely Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy, were not available for the side. Therefore, people assumed that Rahane would opt to bowl first.
This decision was immediately proven wrong when Xavier Bartlett performed brilliantly with the ball in overcast conditions, dismissing both Finn Allen and Cameron Green in the same over. Rain started soon after, and play had to be stopped.
Both Kumble and Saba Karim criticized Rahane for deciding to bat first in such conditions, saying that bowling would have been a better option. During the rain interruption, Kumble said on JioHotstar's broadcast, "I am surprised that Rahane won the toss and decided to bat first. On a pitch where there is a possibility of rain, ideally you should field first." Saba Karim, meanwhile, said, "I don't understand this decision. It is completely beyond my understanding."
