India’s cricket team is in shock after losing 20 coin tosses in a row in one-day internationals, a run that statisticians say carries odds of more than a million-to-one. The streak began after the 2023 World Cup final in Ahmedabad and has remained unbroken ever since.

Stand-in captain KL Rahul said he felt puzzled after again losing the flip in the second ODI against South Africa in Raipur. He joked that he had been practising, but nothing seemed to work.

Rahul said the unusual pressure of simply trying to win a toss had grown, especially with opposite captain Temba Bavuma calling correctly yet again. He hopes the run will end in the third ODI in Visakhapatnam.

Three Indian captains — Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Rahul — have all attempted and failed to break the streak since India last won a toss on November 15, 2023, during the World Cup semi-final against New Zealand.

Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar said there was no way for Rahul to predict what the opposing captain would call. He explained that Bavuma and Aiden Markram might prefer different sides of the coin, making the situation even more unpredictable.

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Former South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn recalled that Faf du Plessis once asked Bavuma to toss the coin for him after his own losing run. Even then, Bavuma lost the toss, showing that such streaks can happen to anyone.

As India head into the final match, fans and players are hoping the statistical oddity finally ends.

This losing streak is strange, but it can happen in sport. India feel the pressure because each loss adds more attention to it. It does not affect skill, but it affects mood. A single win can end the talk, yet until then the curiosity will stay alive.