After losing 11 coin-tosses in a row, Rohit Sharma arrives into the Champions Trophy final against New Zealand on Sunday, not knowing whether the streak would end.
Former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin, however, wants Rohit Sharma to make it 12 toss losses in a row, backing New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner to decide how the game would start at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The strange remarks come from Ashwin as he feels India would be in a much better position mentally if skipper Rohit Sharma loses the toss again.
Rohit Sharma and his unique connection with the toss
India captain Rohit Sharma has lost 11 tosses in a row in ODIs, and Ravichandran Ashwin wants the trend to continue in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 final against New Zealand. The former India spinner reckons Rohit Sharma should let the Kiwis decide what they want to do in the all-important summit clash.
Ashwin said that India have defended and chased successfully in the eight-team tournament hence the side should not have any problem in doing anything. The former India spinner, who is the second-highest wicket-taker for the country in international cricket, picked Rohit Sharma and co as favourites for the final. However, he also said that New Zealand would be no pushovers.
Ashwin wants Rohit Sharma to ‘allow New Zealand to choose what they want to do’ in the finals of ICC Champions Trophy 2025
India‘s Champions Trophy semifinal clash against Australia earlier this week was the 11th successive occasions in ODIs that Rohit Sharma hasn’t won the coin toss. Rohit’s poor luck dates back to the 2023 ODI World Cup final and interestingly and only thrice has this cost India dearly.
As India face New Zealand in the final of the Champions Trophy today, there will be plenty of focus on the pitch and the conditions which makes the toss quite vital. Bat first and defend? Or bowl first and chase?
However, legendary spinner Ravichandran Ashwin quips that India should lose the toss and be free from the pressure of making the call to defend or chase.
Ashwin says since Rohit’s men have successfully defended totals and chased targets without much fuss, the toss shouldn’t be a big factor.
“India have both their bases covered,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel” Ash Ki Baat. “
They’ve defended well, chased successfully. All in all, India will be in a great space. Actually, India shouldn’t win the toss. Let them (New Zealand) decide what they want to. It puts you in a bit of fix because you’ve already defended once after batting comfortably and then defeated New Zealand by almost 50 runs (44). You are also chasing well batting second.”
“(Only time) India looked a bit uncomfortable against Bangladesh. I think India were in a bit of spot against Bangladesh,” he added.
India have won all their matches of the tournament thus far to qualify for the final while New Zealand lost once. This is the second time that these two teams are crossing swords in the final of a Champions Trophy after 2000 when Chris Cairns scored a magnificent century to fire New Zealand to their first ever ICC title win.
The Champions Trophy has been played in a Hybrid Model with India’s matches held in Dubai (including a semifinal and the final) while others played in Pakistan. Dubai has produced slow wickets on which scoring runs has proved to be a challenge while in Pakistan, batters have ruled the roost. A fresh pitch was used for the first semifinal between India and Australia in Dubai and it seemed to get better as the game progressed.
Giving his prediction, Ashwin said that he is 54-46 in favour of India winning the final. While the spinner admitted that New Zealand bowlers have troubled India in the past, he feels India are a very strong team at the moment.
“Personally, I’d say it’s about 54-46 in favor of India. While New Zealand’s bowlers have caused India trouble in the past, they’re still a very strong team,” he added.
India and New Zealand will face off in a repeat of the ICC Knockout 2000 final on Sunday