India’s extraordinary streak: 20 consecutive toss defeats leave cricket world stunned

The Indian cricket team is experiencing an astonishing and almost unbelievable situation: the side has lost 20 consecutive tosses in One Day Internationals, a probability estimated to be less than one in a million.

According to AFP, India’s stand-in captain KL Rahul admitted he is baffled by this extraordinary streak of bad luck,  a run that began during the final of the 2023 World Cup in Ahmedabad when Rohit Sharma was leading the side.

After losing yet another toss on 3 December during the second ODI against South Africa in Raipur, Rahul said, “I’ve been practising, but clearly the practice hasn’t worked.”

The chances of losing 20 tosses in a row are statistically less than one in a million, a rare coincidence Rahul hopes to end in the third ODI scheduled for 6 December in Visakhapatnam.

Rahul added, “To be honest, this is the thing putting the most pressure on me — we haven’t won a toss in a long time.” He made the comment just after South African captain Temba Bavuma once again made the correct call and won the toss.

Three Indian captains, Rohit Sharma, permanent ODI captain Shubman Gill, and KL Rahul, have gone without a single toss win since 15 November 2023, when India beat New Zealand in the World Cup semifinal in Mumbai. Since that toss, India’s luck has been entirely against them.

Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar told Geo Star that Rahul mentioned practising toss-calling, but added, “How can you know what the opposing captain is going to call?”

He further explained that in the first match, Aiden Markram was leading South Africa. “It’s possible Markram prefers ‘heads’ while Temba Bavuma prefers ‘tails,’” he said.

Former South African fast bowler Dale Steyn recalled that after a long losing streak, Faf du Plessis once asked Temba Bavuma to step in and take the toss on his behalf.

Steyn added, “That was the first time I saw a captain letting another player take the toss — and Bavuma still lost it.”