15 toss losing streak for India: Shubman Gill fumbles five times in the IND vs ENG Test series

India’s string of bad luck at the toss continued as they lost their 15th consecutive toss in men’s international cricket ahead of the fifth and final Test against England at The Oval in London on Thursday. The toss curse remained unbroken for India, stretching across formats and series, raising eyebrows over an unusually long run of misfortune. England’s stand-in captain, Ollie Pope, called correctly and elected to bowl first under overcast skies, a decision that seemed ideal given the conditions.

Meanwhile, Indian skipper Shubman Gill saw yet another coin flip go against him, marking his fifth straight toss loss in this Test series alone. The young leader, who took over the captaincy duties for the first time in this format, is yet to win a toss in his tenure. This unusual streak of toss losses has become a talking point among fans and pundits alike. While tosses are a matter of luck, their influence on match conditions—especially in English weather—can’t be understated. With the series on the line and conditions favoring bowlers early on, England hope to capitalize on this advantage, while India, once again, are left to battle adversity from the very first ball.

India's remarkable run of bad luck with the toss in men’s international cricket reached a new level during the fifth Test against England at The Oval, but this misfortune stretches much further back. The last time the Indian men’s team won a toss was in January 2024, during a T20 International in Rajkot. On that occasion, it was Suryakumar Yadav who led the side and finally managed to call the coin correctly in a match against England.

Since then, the team has endured a frustrating sequence of 15 consecutive toss losses across formats. This includes two T20 Internationals, eight One Day Internationals, and five Test matches. The ongoing Test series against England has seen new skipper Shubman Gill lose all five tosses, adding to the scrutiny around India's toss fortunes.

While the toss is generally considered a game of chance, its impact—especially in international cricket—can be significant. Conditions, particularly in places like England where the weather and pitch can shift dramatically over the course of a match, often play a key role in determining outcomes. Losing the toss repeatedly means India has frequently had to adapt to less favorable scenarios, whether that be batting in testing conditions or bowling under flat, lifeless pitches.

India playing 11 for the 5th Test against England

Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill(c), Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel(w), Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj.