India’s Toss Curse Strikes Again in Raipur
So, the strangest and most unbelievable streak in recent ODI cricket has continued — India have now lost 20 consecutive ODI tosses . Yes, twenty! And once again, when the coin went up in Raipur, it was South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma who called correctly and immediately chose to bowl first. By now, it almost feels like a running joke that keeps writing itself.
KL Rahul, leading India and already 1–0 ahead in the series after that thrilling 17-run win in Ranchi, couldn’t do much more than smile at the situation. He even admitted at the toss, half-laughing, that India simply hadn’t won one “for a long time.” Still, he sounded calm and confident. He reminded everyone that India were prepared for dew, prepared to put runs on the board, and pretty much prepared for anything this series throws at them—including yet another lost toss.
On the other side, Bavuma returned to captaincy after missing the first ODI, and he looked visibly relieved to be back. His plan was straightforward: bowl first, hope the dew arrives, and make life easier for his batters while chasing. He also made three changes, bringing back himself, Keshav Maharaj , and Lungi Ngidi . For South Africa, this match wasn’t just another game—it was a must-win to keep the series alive.
Before the match, the pitch itself became a talking point. Former players Deep Dasgupta and Shaun Pollock described it as a surface with two personalities. One half looked good for batting, while the other showed cracks, dryness, and patches that could create uneven bounce. Pollock even warned that it might be two-paced and nowhere near as high-scoring as Ranchi. To add to the drama, experts expected reverse swing because of the abrasive nature of the surface. And of course, everyone kept mentioning the inevitable dew, which usually makes chasing the smarter option.
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Despite the conditions and the toss streak, India stuck with the same XI. The likes of Rohit Sharma , Virat Kohli , Yashasvi Jaiswal , and Ruturaj Gaikwad walked out with intent, backed by a bowling lineup featuring Arshdeep Singh , Kuldeep Yadav , Harshit Rana , and Prasidh Krishna . With India forced to bat first yet again, the challenge was clear: put up a solid total and let the bowlers exploit the tricky nature of the pitch before dew settles in.
South Africa, meanwhile, fielded a strong lineup with Quinton de Kock , Aiden Markram , Dewald Brevis , and Marco Jansen among others. Both teams understood the stakes, but the talk of the moment remained India’s unbelievable toss drought. Twenty tosses lost in a row—it almost defies logic.
As the match began in Raipur, the storyline felt bigger than just bat versus ball. It was about conditions, nerves, momentum, and that lingering question: would the toss curse ever end?
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