‘India Shouldn’t Win Toss’: Why R Ashwin Wants Rohit Sharma’s Wretched Luck To Continue In Champions Trophy Final
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India have lost all their coin tosses in the ongoing Champions Trophy and Ravichandran Ashwin wants the trend to continue.
India and New Zealand will square off in the final of Champions Trophy today. (AP Photo)
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.
“I would say India will be comfortable doing either (bowling first or chasing). I think the pitch will be a good one. If it’s similar to the Australia match, then 280-290 becomes a possibility,” Ashwin said.
- Location :
Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)