The pre-match formalities for the second One-Day International between India and South Africa in Raipur today provided a moment of simultaneous history and hilarity, as India’s bad luck at the coin toss reached an unprecedented level. Stand-in captain KL Rahul lost the toss, marking the 20th consecutive time the Men in Blue have failed to win the coin flip in the ODI format, setting a new and unwanted world record.
The unprecedented streak for India in ODIs
The run of misfortune for the Indian side, which began after the 2023 ODI World Cup final, now stands at a staggering twenty consecutive losses. Statistically, the odds of losing 20 straight tosses are approximately one in a million, highlighting the sheer improbability of the unwanted record. Despite the streak spanning multiple series and several different captains, the outcome remains the same.
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma, returning to lead the side, had an easy decision and chose to field first, citing the potential for dew later in the day which could impact bowling under lights. India, who won the high-scoring first ODI, will now have to set a competitive target batting first for the second time in a row.
KL Rahul’s hilarous reaction on losing another toss
The moment was compounded by Rahul’s candid and humorous admission of the pressure it puts on him. On being asked about losing yet another toss, Rahul sighed and said he really experienced the pressure heading up to the toss as India haven’t won a toss in a long time.
“Honestly, that’s the most pressure I’ve had because we haven’t won a toss in a long time. I’ve been practising, but clearly it’s not working,” said Rahul at the toss.
Team news: Hosts unchanged, Temba Bavuma and Keshav Maharaj return for Proteas
Looking to seal the three-match series, India opted for consistency by retaining the same Playing XI that secured the victory in Ranchi. This means Ruturaj Gaikwad and Washington Sundar got another opportunity to cement their spots in the middle order.
South Africa, however, made crucial changes following their narrow 17-run defeat in the series opener. Captain Bavuma returns to the XI, bolstering the batting lineup, alongside the experienced left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj.
India (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Washington Sundar, KL Rahul (c/wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna
South Africa (Playing XI): Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi
