India’s Toss Curse – A Streak That Won’t End

Some call it luck, others call it fate—but whatever it is, Rohit Sharma just can’t seem to win a toss. Fourteen ODIs in a row, fourteen calls made, and not a single one has gone in India’s favor. That’s the longest streak of consecutive toss losses in ODI history, stretching back to the 2023 World Cup final in Ahmedabad.

And yet, despite this bizarre record, India have remained dominant—winning nine out of those 14 matches, losing only four, and tying one against Sri Lanka. Whether they bat first or second, they’ve managed to find a way to win. Now, with the Champions Trophy final against New Zealand looming, the question remains—does the toss even matter?

Does Toss Impact Results at DICS?

Historically, the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS) has favored teams chasing. The 2021 T20 World Cup saw 12 out of 13 matches won by teams batting second. The same pattern continued in the IPL and ILT20, where the toss played a crucial role in dictating outcomes.

But this time? The trend seems to have broken. India have won matches both while setting and chasing targets, proving that adaptability matters more than luck at the coin flip. One reason for this shift is the unexpected absence of dew—something that usually tilts the advantage towards chasing teams.

Former New Zealand coach Mike Hesson even weighed in on the phenomenon, stating, “I thought there would be more dew at this time of year, but there hasn’t been. That’s great, because it means the toss isn’t a major factor heading into a final.”

Perhaps, much like in casino app in india, the game isn’t always about what happens before the start—it’s about how you play when the action begins.

The Chakaravarthy Factor – India’s Hidden Edge?

Even if the toss hasn’t been a deciding factor, India may still have an advantage if they win it—because of one player: Varun Chakaravarthy. The mystery spinner, who starred in India’s previous win against New Zealand, becomes even more dangerous under the lights.

“New Zealand will want to bat first,” Hesson pointed out. “If they bat under lights, Chakaravarthy will be incredibly difficult to pick.” The spinner uses his variations to perform deceptive action which turns into a weapon under challenging illumination conditions.

Captain Kane Williamson of New Zealand continues to show resolve about facing England despite his team’s semifinal victory where he scored a century. “Conditions at DICS are different from Gaddafi Stadium, but that’s the nature of tournament cricket. We’ve faced India once here already, so we know what to expect. In a final, anything can happen.”

Much like a well-timed move in live casino, New Zealand will have to decide their strategy carefully—play it safe, or take a bold risk?

Does Playing in Dubai Give India an Edge?

One point of debate has been whether India have an unfair advantage by playing all their matches in Dubai. Having already mastered the conditions, some believe they have a head start going into the final. Williamson does not agree with that logic.

“It is what it is,” he said. All teams carry out their matches according to their given schedules. We have already played India at this ground previously which means we will use our previous success as motivation to carry out our strategic game plan.

New Zealand must overcome potential final game jitters because India enters their matchup without suffering any defeats.

Key Factors Heading into the Final

• India’s Toss Streak – Can Rohit finally break the curse, or will it stretch to 15?
• DICS Pitch Conditions – Will the toss impact the match, or has the absence of dew neutralized its effect?
• Chakaravarthy’s Role – If India bowl second, could his mystery spin decide the final?
• New Zealand’s Strategy – Do they attack from the start, or play the long game?

Final Thoughts – Will the Streak Continue?

Superstitions aside, one thing is certain—India have been winning despite the toss, not because of it. Their ability to adapt, their dominance in Dubai, and their squad depth make them formidable opponents. New Zealand, however, have a history of delivering in high-pressure knockout games.

Whether it’s luck or skill, the final will tell us if the streak continues… or if Rohit Sharma finally calls it right at the crucial moment. But as history has shown—sometimes, the toss doesn’t decide the winner. The game does.