Mumbai, March 29 -- Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya won the toss and elected to field against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium here on Sunday, citing favourable pitch conditions with an unusual layer of grass.
Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane admitted he would have preferred to bowl first as well, noting that he had "never seen this amount of grass at Wankhede," indicating potentially helpful conditions for seamers early in the game.
Rahane said KKR's preparations had been thorough, with training camps held in both Kolkata and Mumbai, and acknowledged the challenge posed by Mumbai Indians, calling them a champion team. He stressed the importance of staying focused on the present rather than dwelling on past p...