IMAGE: Punjab Kings' Xavier Bartlett celebrates taking the wicket of Kolkata Knight Riders' Cameron Green, caught by Prabhsimran Singh at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Monday. Photograph: BCCI

Key Points

• Ajinkya Rahane chose to bat first after winning the toss despite rain threat.
• Decision surprised many given overcast conditions in Kolkata.
• Punjab Kings seamer Xavier Bartlett exploited swing, dismissing Finn Allen and Cameron Green cheaply.
• Early wickets left KKR under pressure before rain interrupted play.

Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Ajinkya Rahane's decision to bat first on winning the toss against Punjab Kings in Kolkata on Monday took a lot of people by surprise.

When rain made a brief appearance before toss of the Indian Premier League match in Kolkata, it was assumed that the captain who won the toss would opt to bowl first, given the conditions.

But Rahane decided to bat first and his decision proved costly as Punjab Kings' seamer Xavier Bartlett got the ball to swing and seam, removing opener Finn Allen for 6. Allen got an outside edge as he tried to swing at a fullish ball and caught behind by Prabhsimran Singh.

One ball later, Bartlett sent back compatriot Cameron Green (4), again caught behind, striking twice in the over and reducing KKR to 16 for 2 in 2 overs.

An over and four balls later, rain interrupted play in the fourth over.

Luckily for KKR, the erroneous didn't cost them much as the match was finally called off at 2300, citing wet outfield.

However Rahane's call boggled a few, and among them was former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin who expressed his surprise on X.

'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. #ipl2026,' Ashwin tweeted.

IMAGE: KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane and Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer at the toss on Monday. Photograph: BCCI

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen, who is part of the IPL broadcast team said KKR may have been in a quandary over the decision at the toss.

'With the conditions, yes I was surprised (that they decided to bat first), but given that the last five matches the team batting first has won...

'It's very difficult, whether you go with what might happen or whether you go with record of the past few games. They were probably in a conundrum over their decision at the toss,' he said during panel discussion on the broadcast channel during the rain break.

Here were other reactions on X.