IPL 2026: Shimron Hetmyer returns as RR opt to bat first against KKR at Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Rajasthan Royals opted to bat first against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens, with skipper Riyan Parag citing a dry pitch conducive to spin. KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane, though preferring to bat, expressed confidence in his bowlers. Both teams made changes to their lineups, with key players returning for Rajasthan.
Rajasthan Royals won the toss and elected to bat first against Kolkata Knight Riders in their IPL 2026 clash, setting the stage for an intriguing contest at Eden Gardens. RR skipper Riyan Parag backed his decision citing the dry nature of the surface, which he expects could assist spin as the game progresses. ''We're batting first.
Looks like a pretty dry wicket; the grass was cut yesterday. It could turn in the first innings and remain the same later on. Let's set the tone at the start: our focus is on doing better, last match was a learning phase, we need to take it into the games.
Hetmyer and Brijesh are back, they replace Pretorious and Tushar Deshpande,'' Parag said at the toss. Rahane: ‘Happy to Lose the Toss’ KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane revealed that his side would have preferred to bat first as well but remained unfazed after losing the toss. ''We wanted to bat first.
In this situation, we want our batters to be free from any pressure. The bowlers have started to perform well, and I'm happy to lose the toss. We live in the past, we can't say about the future, just focus on the controllables.