India Set Unwanted Record After Losing 20th Straight ODI Toss in Raipur

India set an unwanted world record on Tuesday when stand-in captain KL Rahul lost his 20th consecutive ODI toss, as South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma called correctly and elected to bowl first in the second match of the series at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium. The staggering streak—which now stands alone as the longest in ODI history—has left players, fans, and statisticians stunned, with the mathematical probability of losing 20 fair coin tosses in a row calculated at just 0.000000954, or roughly one in 1,048,576.

The bizarre run began in the 2023 ODI World Cup final against Australia and has continued unrelentingly across three captains—Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and now KL Rahul—spanning home and away series. The previous record of 11 straight losses was held by the Netherlands. Rahul, who admitted to practising coin flips in his hotel room in a bid to break the jinx, could only laugh in disbelief after yet again, prompting a wry smile and the remark, “I think the biggest pressure today was the toss. I’ve genuinely been practising, but clearly it’s still not working.”

While a coin toss does not determine the result of a cricket match, the streak has become a source of both amusement and frustration for the Indian camp. Former India wicketkeeper Shreevats Goswami joked on social media that the team should simply stop attending tosses altogether and let opponents decide, while fans flooded platforms with memes ranging from conspiracy theories about “loaded coins” to suggestions that Rahul should try calling “tails” for a change.

Also Read: Shubman Gill Declared Fit, Will Play as Vice-Captain In South Africa T20I Series

Statisticians pointed out that the odds of India’s run are comparable to being struck by lightning twice or winning a lottery jackpot, making it one of the most improbable sequences in modern sport. The streak has now survived multiple match officials, venues, continents, and even coin designs, further deepening the mystery surrounding what many are calling “the curse of the Indian toss”.

Despite the record, Rahul remained focused on the game itself, confirming an unchanged playing XI and expressing confidence that putting runs on the board under lights would again prove decisive in dew-heavy conditions. As the teams walked out to play, one thing was certain: whatever happens in the match, India’s extraordinary toss hoodoo has already secured its place in cricket folklore.

Also Read: INDvsSA 2nd ODI: Rohit Shocked By DRS Reversal as Kohli Breathes Fire With The Bat