India’s streak of losing the toss in ODIs has now extended to 18 consecutive losses after new captain Shubman Gill lost the toss in the Sydney ODI against Australia on October 25. Despite India’s diminishing fortunes in the ongoing Australia series, the third ODI in Sydney marked another unfortunate milestone for the team.
Australia’s captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss and elected to bat first, a decision that has historically been advantageous at the Sydney venue. India had surpassed the previous record of 11 consecutive toss losses, previously held by the Netherlands, during the Champions Trophy in March. Shubman Gill’s debut series as India’s ODI captain has been further complicated by three consecutive toss defeats and a series loss following defeats in Perth and Adelaide.
The unfortunate streak commenced on November 19, 2023, during the World Cup final in Ahmedabad, where Australia’s skipper Pat Cummins won the toss against Rohit Sharma. Nearly two years later, India is still struggling to secure a toss victory in ODIs.
Despite their toss misfortunes, India has maintained an impressive record when chasing, winning 10 out of 17 ODIs in which they lost the toss. This trend highlights the team’s ability to perform well even under unfavorable circumstances.
India’s farewell series for veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli has not unfolded as planned. Following losses in Perth and Adelaide, Kohli faced a rare setback in his ODI career, scoring consecutive ducks upon his return. In contrast, Rohit managed to bounce back with a resilient 73-run innings in Adelaide after a disappointing performance in Perth.
In the third ODI, the Men in Blue are playing for pride to avoid a series whitewash, a scenario that has only occurred in five three-match or longer ODI series in India’s history.