India's struggles at the toss have continued, with Shubman Gill unable to reverse the team's fortunes in the first ODI against Australia at Optus Stadium in Perth. The toss, often seen as a matter of chance, has become a persistent concern for the Indian side, extending a losing streak that has now reached unprecedented levels.
Australia won the toss and elected to field first, marking India's 16th consecutive ODI toss loss. This extends to 17 consecutive losses, surpassing the previous record held by the Netherlands. The last time India won a toss in this format was in the 2023 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand. The mathematical improbability of such a streak has caught the attention of fans and statisticians alike. The odds of losing 17 consecutive coin tosses are approximately 1 in 131,072.
Gill, leading the side in his first ODI assignment as captain, expressed a positive outlook despite the toss setback, emphasizing the importance of staying mentally prepared and supporting the team. However, the repeated failure at the toss has become a talking point, with many questioning whether it has any impact on the team's morale or strategy.
The game saw the return of experienced players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to the ODI lineup. However, the Aussie pace duo of Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc quickly dismantled India's top order. Sharma fell victim to a rising delivery from Hazlewood, while Kohli was dismissed for a duck, his first in 30 ODI innings in Australia. Gill also showed promise with a few boundaries but was soon dismissed. The top three batsmen only managed to score 18 runs together, which is India's lowest top-order total in an ODI since the 2019 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand.
Despite the early setbacks and the continuous interruptions due to rain, a lighter moment was captured when Sharma and Gill were seen sharing popcorn and laughter in the dressing room. This candid moment offered a glimpse into the team's camaraderie amidst the pressures of the game.
India also recently played England in a 5-match test series in July 2025, where Shubman Gill lost all five tosses. Losing all five tosses in a five-match Test series has only happened 14 times in cricket history, with the last time being when India toured England in 2018. In the final test match, Gill made a blunder by only announcing three changes to the playing XI when there were actually four. Despite the statistical oddity of the toss results, Gill, like Sharma before him, remains focused on performance. Drawing inspiration from Sharma's leadership in the 2025 Champions Trophy, where India won without winning a single toss, the team's mindset is geared towards overcoming the disadvantage and performing at their best.
