India’s streak of bad luck at the toss continued as Mitchell Marsh won the toss and opted to bowl first in the 1st ODI between India and Australia at the Optus Stadium in Perth. This marks India’s 16th consecutive toss loss in One Day Internationals, a rare and surprising run for a team that has otherwise dominated world cricket in recent years.
The last time India won the toss in an ODI was nearly two years ago — during the 2023 ODI World Cup semifinal against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, where Rohit Sharma’s men went on to seal a memorable victory and reach the final.
Since then, India have played across multiple series without any luck flipping their way at the coin toss — including bilateral contests and multi-nation tournaments.
In Perth, Australia captain Mitchell Marsh had no hesitation in choosing to bowl first under overcast skies, setting the stage for a challenging test for India’s experienced batting lineup, led by Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
As India prepare to face the new ball on a fast and bouncy Perth pitch, fans will be hoping the team’s luck turns around — if not at the toss, then certainly with the bat.
