India have created one of the most surprising records in international cricket history — losing 20 tosses in a row, both across all formats and specifically in ODI cricket. This streak lasted from November 2023 to December 2025.
However, on December 6, 2025, India finally ended this extraordinary sequence by winning the toss in the 3rd ODI against South Africa at Visakhapatnam.
Despite losing 20 tosses in a row, India still managed to win important matches — proving once again that cricket is decided by performance, not the coin.
Latest Update: 3rd ODI Toss (Dec 6, 2025)
- India won the toss after 20 consecutive losses.
- KL Rahul elected to field first.
- This officially ends the streak at 20.
This is India’s first ODI toss win since November 2023 — a gap of over two years.
How the Toss-Loss Streak Started
The streak began when India lost the toss in the 2023 World Cup Final on November 19, 2023. From that point, India kept losing tosses across several series and formats.
- Lost consecutive tosses in ODIs
- Lost tosses in major Test series
- Lost tosses in T20I series against England & Australia
- Continued losing tosses during South Africa’s 2025 tour of India
The streak grew to 20 consecutive ODI toss losses before finally ending on Dec 6, 2025.
Most Consecutive Toss Losses in ODIs – Updated to Dec 2025
| Rank | Team | Consecutive ODI Tosses Lost | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 20 (completed) | Nov 2023 – Dec 2025 |
| 2 | Netherlands | 11 | 2011 – 2013 |
| 3 | England | 9 | 2023 |
| 3 | USA | 9 | 2022 |
India’s streak is now officially the longest in ODI history.
Most Consecutive Toss Losses Across All Formats
| Rank | Team | Consecutive Tosses Lost | Duration | Captains |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 20 (completed) | Nov 2023 – Dec 2025 | Rohit, Surya, Gill |
| 2 | West Indies | 12 | 1999 | Lara, Adams, Hooper |
| 3 | England | 11 | 2022–2023 | Buttler, Stokes |
| 4 | Netherlands | 11 | 2011–2013 | Borren |
| 5 | New Zealand | 10 | 1972–73 | Congdon |
India’s 20-loss streak remains the highest in world cricket history.
Read more: Most Consecutive Toss Losses in International Cricket History
Captains Involved in India’s Toss-Loss Record (All Formats)
| Captain | Tosses Lost in Streak | Formats | Time Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma | 9 | ODIs & T20Is | Nov 2023 – Mar 2025 |
| Suryakumar Yadav | 5 | T20Is | Jan – Oct 2025 |
| Shubman Gill | 6 | Tests & ODIs | Jul – Dec 2025 |
The streak passed from captain to captain — but finally ended under KL Rahul in the 3rd ODI.
Rohit Sharma: Most Consecutive ODI Toss Losses by a Captain
| Rank | Captain | ODI Tosses Lost | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rohit Sharma (IND) | 15 | Nov 2023 | Mar 2025 |
| 2 | Brian Lara (WI) | 12 | 1998 | 1999 |
| 3 | Peter Borren (NED) | 11 | 2011 | 2013 |
| 4 | Jos Buttler (ENG) | 9 | 2023 | 2023 |
| 5 | Monank Patel (USA) | 9 | 2022 | 2022 |
Rohit stands at the top of this rare list.
India’s Toss-Loss Streak: Updated Timeline Overview
Key Milestones
- 13 losses by July 2025 (England Tests)
- 15 losses by July 31, 2025 (Oval Test)
- 19 losses by Dec 1, 2025 (1st ODI vs SA)
- 20 losses after 2nd ODI toss — Dec 3, 2025
- Streak ends at 20 — India win toss in 3rd ODI (Dec 6, 2025)
ODI Toss Results – South Africa Tour of India 2025
| Match | Toss Result | Match Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI, Ranchi | Lost | India won by 17 runs |
| 2nd ODI, Raipur | Lost | South Africa won by 4 wickets |
| 3rd ODI, Vizag | Won | Match ongoing |
Why This Streak Was So Rare
A coin toss gives both captains a 50% chance — making a 20-toss loss streak almost impossible.
Probability of losing 20 tosses in a row:
1 in 1,048,576 (0.000095%)
Conclusion
India’s record of 20 consecutive toss losses — now ended — will go down as one of the most extraordinary streaks in cricket history.
And on 6 December 2025, India finally broke the streak with KL Rahul winning the toss at Vizag — bringing relief to fans and players alike.
After two years of bad luck… the coin finally fell India’s way.
