KL Rahul Ends India’s Toss Jinx with a New Trick in IND vs SA 3rd ODI Watch Harshit Rana’s Reaction in Viral Video
In a significant moment for Indian cricket, KL Rahul successfully broke India’s long-standing toss losing streak in the third ODI against South Africa. This marked Rahul’s 21st attempt as a stand-in captain, where he chose to field first in Visakhapatnam on Saturday.
End of the Toss Jinx
The Indian team had not won a toss since the 2023 ODI World Cup, suffering 20 consecutive failures with previous captains, including Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. However, Rahul’s tactical adjustment, using his left hand to flip the coin, proved to be a winning strategy.
Celebrations in Visakhapatnam
Upon winning the toss, Rahul’s joy was evident as he laughed and celebrated with a fist pump, prompting excitement from the crowd. The last successful toss for India in an ODI occurred during the 2023 World Cup semifinal against New Zealand.
After securing the toss, Rahul shared his technique with bowling coach Morne Morkel. The moment was further celebrated by fast bowler Harshit Rana, whose reaction went viral. In the video, Rana exuberantly jumped in excitement alongside teammate Rishabh Pant.
Team Changes and Match Preview
For this crucial match, India made a solitary change to their lineup. Tilak Varma replaced the underperforming Washington Sundar, who had managed only 14 runs across the first two ODIs and did not take a wicket.
On the opposing side, South Africa had to adapt due to injuries, leading to two changes. Pacer Nandre Burger and batter Tony de Zorzi were ruled out for two weeks. They were replaced by Ryan Rickelton and Ottneil Baartman in the starting XI.
Playing XIs for the Third ODI
| India | South Africa |
|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma | Ryan Rickelton |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | Quinton de Kock (wk) |
| Virat Kohli | Temba Bavuma (c) |
| Ruturaj Gaikwad | Matthew Breetzke |
| Tilak Varma | Aiden Markram |
| KL Rahul (wk/c) | Dewald Brevis |
| Ravindra Jadeja | Marco Jansen |
| Harshit Rana | Corbin Bosch |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Keshav Maharaj |
| Arshdeep Singh | Lungi Ngidi |
| Prasidh Krishna | Ottneil Baartman |
This match not only marked a potential turnaround for India but also offered a chance to build momentum as they faced a determined South African side. The excitement surrounding the toss win demonstrated the passionate support from fans in Visakhapatnam.
