India's captain KL Rahul finally broke the team's notorious toss-losing streak in One-Day Internationals with an unconventional and superstitious change of technique. The moment came on Saturday, December 6, 2025, during the third ODI against South Africa at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam.
The Toss That Broke the Streak
After a run of over 20 consecutive lost tosses in the 50-over format, the pressure was palpable as Rahul stepped out for the coin flip with South African skipper Aiden Markram. The Indian captain, who had humorously blamed himself for the two previous losses in the series, decided to switch things up. Instead of using his dominant right hand, Rahul tossed the coin with his left hand. The gamble paid off instantly.
Markram called heads, but the coin landed in favour of the hosts. Rahul, visibly relieved and elated, broke into a fist-pump celebration. His genuine reaction brought a smile to Markram's face and triggered a loud, prolonged roar from the packed Visakhapatnam crowd. The cheer was so intense that toss presenter and former cricketer Murali Karthik had to pause before he could proceed with the formalities.
Rahul's Playful Banter and Relief
The win allowed India to elect to bowl first, a welcome change after being asked to bat in both prior matches. Rahul was later seen indicating to a teammate about his left-handed tactic, highlighting the deliberate nature of the switch.
The light-hearted moment continued with some playful banter between Rahul and Murali Karthik. When Karthik jokingly asked, "is it me or is it you?" implying who was the lucky charm, Rahul quipped back, "I think it's you, you should do more tosses." Karthik then recalled that the last time an Indian captain, Shubman Gill, had won a toss, he was also the presenter.
This victory was a sweet reversal from Rahul's comments after the second ODI in Raipur. Following that defeat, where dew played a major factor, he had said, "Toss plays a big role so I'm kicking myself for losing 2 tosses in a row." When asked about areas for improvement, his first reply had been a simple, "yeah, win the toss."
Ending a Long Wait
The significance of the moment was not lost on fans or the team. The win in Visakhapatnam marked India's first successful toss call in ODIs after more than 20 attempts, a statistic that had become a talking point in cricketing circles. While superstition and luck played their part, Rahul's willingness to try a different approach provided a memorable and human moment in the high-stakes environment of international cricket.
The incident underscores how even the smallest rituals can become part of a player's psyche in sport. Whether the left hand becomes Rahul's permanent toss technique remains to be seen, but for one day in Visakhapatnam, it was the trick that broke the curse and gave the Indian team the initial advantage they desperately sought.
