Rohit Sharma’s Toss Curse: Sets Unwanted Record in Champions Trophy Final

India Loses 15th Consecutive Toss in ODIs, Rohit Equals Brian Lara’s Record

March 9, 2025: Rohit Sharma’s Unbelievable Toss Streak Continues in Champions Trophy Final

The much-anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final in Dubai began with an astonishing statistic—Rohit Sharma lost his 12th consecutive toss as captain in ODIs, marking 15 straight toss losses for Team India overall. This rare occurrence, with a probability of just 0.000031 (0.0031%), has now placed Rohit alongside West Indies legend Brian Lara, who also holds the record for the most consecutive toss defeats as a skipper in ODIs.

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Despite Rohit’s unfortunate streak, the Indian team remained unfazed. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and opted to bat first, citing the familiarity of the pitch conditions from their earlier match against India. However, New Zealand faced a setback as pacer Matt Henry was ruled out due to a shoulder injury, with Nathan Smith coming in as his replacement.

Rohit Unbothered by Toss Streak

Even after yet another lost toss, Rohit Sharma maintained his composure, asserting that the team was comfortable with both chasing and setting a target.

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"We've been here enough, batted first and bowled first, and don’t really mind batting second. The pitch hasn't changed much, and we’ve chased and won as well. At the end of the day, what matters is how well you play," Rohit said.

He also acknowledged New Zealand’s consistent performances in ICC tournaments and emphasized that India must execute their game plan efficiently to secure the title.

Playing XIs for the Final

India:

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy.

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New Zealand:

Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (w), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Kyle Jamieson, William O'Rourke, Nathan Smith.

Will India Overcome the Toss Jinx?

While Rohit Sharma’s unwanted record has become a talking point, the real battle lies ahead on the field. Can India’s dominant form in the tournament outshine the toss disadvantage, or will New Zealand’s resilience in ICC knockouts prove decisive? The stage is set for an exciting final.