The big match is coming as the Men in Blue gear up for the Aussie challenge in the Champions Trophy semi-final. No one can deny the magnitude of this clash, and in high-stakes, now-or-never games, the toss becomes a crucial factor.
India, riding on strong momentum, has won all three group-stage matches, defeating Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand. However, what they haven’t won is the toss. That’s right, India has lost 13 consecutive tosses in ODIs so far.
Former cricketer Aakash Chopra has emphasised the importance of the toss in this upcoming encounter. He also pointed out that despite Rohit Sharma losing every toss so far, India has emerged victorious in all their group-stage games. However, he believes the toss could play a decisive role against Australia.
Aakash Chopra on the toss factor in the Champions Trophy semifinal
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra discussed India’s strong performance but cautioned that losing the toss in the knockout game could have a major impact. “We haven’t won a single toss so far. Rohit has sworn that he won’t win the toss and won’t lose the match. It sounds fine, but the toss remains an issue. Australia won the toss in Ahmedabad (2023 World Cup final) and, contrary to expectations, chose to bowl first. That decision proved to be a game-changer,” he said.
While Australia do not have a dominant spin attack, Chopra believes that setting a target of 270 would make India clear favourites. “If someone tells you that the toss isn’t important and you can restrict the opposition while chasing, I disagree. If Australia get 270, it won’t be chased easily. So, in my opinion, the toss holds incredible importance in this game. Rohit, please win one toss,” Chopra added.
Most consecutive tosses lost by a captain
| Rank | Captain | Consecutive Tosses Lost | Period |
| 1 | Brian Lara | 12 | Oct 1998 – May 1999 |
| 2 | Peter Borren | 11 | Mar 2011 – Aug 2013 |
| 3 | Rohit Sharma | 10 | Nov 2023 – Mar 2025* |
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