Before a single ball was bowled in the much-anticipated IND vs AUS ODI series opener in Perth, India was already battling an invisible opponent—one that’s haunted them for over two years. Captain Shubman Gill called correctly, but the coin didn’t fall his way. It marked India’s 16th consecutive ODI toss loss, a streak that began in July 2023 and shows no sign of breaking.
The Toss Curse: By the Numbers
This isn’t just bad luck—it’s statistical anomaly territory. Since losing the toss against West Indies in Trinidad in 2023, India hasn’t won a single ODI coin flip, across 16 matches in 7 countries:
- Last toss win: July 23, 2023 (vs West Indies)
- Matches since: 16
- Win percentage when batting first in that span: 31%
- Win percentage when chasing: 63%
Ironically, India has won more games while chasing—but in Australia, where dew is rare and pitches favor pacers early on, batting second isn’t always ideal.
Why This Toss Matters More in Perth
Perth’s pitch is known for its pace, bounce, and early seam movement—conditions that heavily favor the team bowling first. Australia, led by Pat Cummins, wasted no time choosing to field, hoping to exploit the new-ball threat with Starc, Hazlewood, and young quick Spencer Johnson.
For India, that means their top order—already under scrutiny—must survive the first 10 overs against one of the world’s fiercest pace attacks.
Hope in the Form of Returning Giants
Despite the toss jinx, there’s genuine optimism in the Indian camp. The return of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma—both rested during parts of 2024—adds firepower and calm to a transitional side. Kohli, fresh off a century in the warm-ups, looks locked in. Rohit, 11kg lighter and sharper than ever , is ready to lead from the front—even if he’s no longer captain.
“Tosses don’t win matches. Skill does,” said Rohit in the pre-match press conference, a subtle dig at the growing “curse” narrative.
Confirmed XIs: Youth Meets Experience
| India | Australia |
|---|---|
| 1. Shubman Gill (c) 2. Rohit Sharma 3. Virat Kohli 4. Shreyas Iyer 5. KL Rahul (wk) 6. Nitish Kumar Reddy 7. Washington Sundar 8. Kuldeep Yadav 9. Mohammed Shami 10. Jasprit Bumrah 11. Renuka Singh |
1. Travis Head 2. Matt Renshaw 3. Steve Smith 4. Marnus Labuschagne 5. Glenn Maxwell 6. Mitch Owen 7. Alex Carey (wk) 8. Pat Cummins (c) 9. Mitchell Starc 10. Josh Hazlewood 11. Spencer Johnson |
Can India Break the Curse?
History says it’s unlikely. But cricket thrives on defiance. With Gill leading a blend of veterans and debutants like Nitish Kumar Reddy, and with Kohli and Sharma hungry to prove they still own the big stage, India has every reason to flip the script—toss or not.
As fans across the country light diyas for Diwali, they’re also praying for one more miracle: an end to the toss curse, and the start of a series win Down Under.