Winning the toss in ODI cricket has become a huge factor, especially when dew plays a massive part in the second innings. The first two games of the ongoing three-match series between India and South Africa showed this. In Ranchi, the visitors kept losing wickets but on a flat track with dew, nearly pulled out a miracle win. In Raipur, they went one step further and got across line in dewy conditions.
Since November 2023 in the World Cup semifinal against New Zealand, India hadn't won a toss in the ODI format and the streak was getting increasingly frustrating for the home side. KL Rahul, the stand-in captain, broke that streak and as soon as he won the toss, there was a fist-pump that indicated joy and relief. What worked this time?
Well, there is no secret method to winning the toss, else anybody could have aced it. However, Rahul did reveal a very funny tactic that he applied before flipping the coin in Vizag.
"What worked for us today is that our analyst Hari came to me and gave me a few tricks," said Rahul after the toss.
"He told me to spin it with my left hand, and cross my right hand."
This wasn't the only advice that Rahul had gotten before the toss. When a team loses so many tosses in a row, it does become a psychological thing after a point of time. Each player, especially the senior ones, do have their inputs that they give to the captain who has a buffet of options to pick from.
ALSO READ
- SMAT 2025: After T20I world record in Australia, Abhishek Sharma creates Indian T20 record in Hyderabad
- India vs South Africa | Vizag ODI: Rohit Sharma joins Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Rahul Dravid in rare milestone club
- Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya return as India squad for T20I series against SA announced
"Before the toss, there is a bunch of superstitions and things that everyone has been saying. Virat gave me a different opinion but I stuck with Hari because he was giving the same opinion last game as well. He is also the most pushy of everyone, so I thought let us give it a try."