During the 2023 World Cup, the toss has not been a deciding factor, with teams winning the toss and winning or losing the match in equal measure. At the World Cup final in Ahmedabad, the decision to chase or defend after winning the toss became crucial. Traditionally, setting a target and dominating the scoreboard was the preferred strategy, but recent history has shown that teams chasing have been more successful in winning titles.
Australia’s captain, Pat Cummins, faced a dilemma at the final, considering the challenges of batting under lights and the impact of dew on the ball later in the game. Matches at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad have shown a trend of the chasing side winning, with the dew factor playing a significant role in making batting more comfortable. However, Indian captain Rohit Sharma downplayed the significance of the toss, citing recent experiences where dew was present during training but not during the actual game.
As the cricketing world awaited the epic clash in Ahmedabad, the toss loomed large as a strategic decision that could potentially shape the destiny of the 2023 World Cup. The captains weighed the options, mindful of the changing conditions and the historical significance of chasing in recent tournaments.
From toss win to Cup victory: ODI World Cup finals analyzed
The last 12 ODI World Cup finals saw the team winning the toss secure victory only four times, whereas the team losing the toss emerged triumphant eight times. India lost the toss in both their ODI World Cup final victories in 1983 and 2011, showing that winning the toss does not guarantee victory.