India has extended their unwanted record for the most consecutive toss losses in ODIs to 18 after new captain Shubman Gill lost the toss for the Sydney ODI against Australia on October 25. While India’s fortunes in the Australia series have already slipped away before the Sydney clash, the third ODI added another unwanted milestone to their tally.
Australia captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss in Sydney and opted to bat first, a historically winning choice at the venue. India had already broken the previous record of 11 consecutive toss losses, held by the Netherlands, back in March during the Champions Trophy. Shubman Gill’s first series as India’s ODI captain has been made even tougher with three toss losses and a series defeat already secured after losses in Perth and Adelaide.
The streak began on November 19, 2023, in the World Cup final at Ahmedabad when Australia skipper Pat Cummins won the toss against Rohit Sharma. Nearly two years later, India have still not won a single toss in ODIs.
Despite this, India have maintained an impressive record when batting second, winning 10 of the 17 ODIs in which they lost the toss. This trend has become almost comical, showing that the team focuses on performance even when fortune is not on their side.
India’s farewell series for veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli has not gone according to plan. After losing the series opener in Perth and the second ODI in Adelaide, Kohli was dismissed for two consecutive ducks in his comeback, a first in his ODI career. Rohit, meanwhile, redeemed himself with a gritty 73 in Adelaide after scoring just 8 in Perth.
The Men in Blue play for pride in the third ODI, aiming to avoid a series whitewash — something India have suffered in only five three-match (or longer) ODI series in history.
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