It finally happened — Shubman Gill broke his streak of bad luck at the toss, and the cricket world couldn’t stop talking about it. In the second Test against the West Indies in New Delhi, Gill, stepping out as India’s captain, called correctly for the very first time in his Test leadership career after losing six tosses in a row. The crowd might have expected a modest celebration, but what followed became an unforgettable moment that spread like wildfire online.
Gill, with a smile and a firm call to bat first, stuck with the same formidable XI that had crushed the West Indies in Ahmedabad by an innings and a staggering 140 runs in the opening match. The decision instantly fueled excitement across the squad. Head coach Gautam Gambhir, all-rounders Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja, and the rest of the team erupted in good-humored chatter. As Gill made his way back to the group after the toss, someone yelled out, “Well done, Gill!” — and that’s when Gambhir delivered the comic jab that would go viral.
According to Gambhir, Jasprit Bumrah had already measured out his run-up, expecting yet another defeat at the toss. Laughing, Bumrah quipped, “Miyan (Siraj) and I, both,” joining in the playful teasing that had everyone grinning. It was a rare lighthearted moment that perfectly captured the team’s camaraderie.
Reflecting afterwards, Gill took a surprisingly calm view of the whole streak. “Out of the seven Tests, we got what we wanted in four,” he explained. “We wanted to bowl in the last match, and we got to bowl. This time, we get to bat. Toss se farak nahi hai, jo chaiye wo milega” — meaning, in essence, that the toss is insignificant as long as they get the gameplay they prefer. It was a confident statement for a player shouldering the extra responsibilities of captaincy.
India wasted no time proving Gill’s decision right. By stumps on day one, the scoreboard read an imposing 318/2 from 90 overs, with Yashasvi Jaiswal unbeaten on a majestic 173 and Sai Sudharsan notching up a personal best of 87 runs. The early dominance gave India a strong foundation to build on.
Speaking about the match and his evolving role, Gill noted, “The wicket looks good; we want to stack up runs. Consistency is the real key — to keep repeating strong performances. Captaincy hasn’t changed me much, except that there’s more responsibility now, which I enjoy. It’s a very exciting future for me.”
But here’s where it gets interesting — does a skipper’s luck with the toss truly matter in the grand scheme, or is it all about how you play the hand you’re dealt? Some say winning the toss can subtly tilt the game, while others argue it’s just an overblown statistic. What do you think? Drop your take in the comments — does Gill’s breakthrough toss win actually mean much, or is it just a fun storyline for cricket fans?
