Rohit Sharma’s toss turmoil creates a ‘lost’ streak that matches this cricket legend

Can tosses win you matches? While Rohit Sharma has managed to defy the odds of this, in a surprising turn of events, the Indian skipper on Sunday matched an infamous record set by West Indies great Brian Lara, suffering the misfortune of losing 12 consecutive tosses in One Day Internationals (ODIs).

This streak, which has persisted since November 2023, reached its peak during the ICC Champions Trophy final against New Zealand in Dubai, with Lara's record having been established between October 1998 and May 1999.

In the final match, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and opted to bat first, facing an unchanged Indian lineup. However, New Zealand's pace bowler Matt Henry was ruled out due to a shoulder injury sustained during the semi-final against South Africa, leading to Nathan Smith stepping in as his replacement.


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Rohit's streak of bad luck at the toss has been stark, as Team India has now lost a total of 15 consecutive tosses in ODIs, with 12 of those occurring under his captaincy. The record for the most consecutive tosses lost by a captain in ODIs is as follows:

• 12 tosses lost: Rohit Sharma (Nov 2023 - Mar 2025)
• 12 tosses lost: Brian Lara (Oct 1998 - May 1999)
• 11 tosses lost: Peter Borren (Mar 2011 - Aug 2013)

This ongoing struggle has overshadowed previous records, surpassing that of former Netherlands captain Peter Borren, who lost 11 tosses consecutively from March 2011 to August 2013.

Tosses can significantly influence match outcomes, particularly in high-stakes tournaments like the Champions Trophy, yet Rohit and his team have managed to maintain competitive performances despite this unfortunate trend.

Just a week prior, India had triumphed over New Zealand with a 44-run victory in the group stages. Notably, New Zealand previously clinched the Champions Trophy title in 2000 by defeating India in the final, held in Nairobi, Kenya.