Luck once again turned away from Team India as stand-in captain KL Rahul lost the toss to South African skipper Aiden Markram in the first ODI at the JSCA International Stadium in Ranchi. The moment, however, caught the attention of many—not for the toss result itself, but for how quickly Rahul went through the process.
During the live broadcast, commentators Ravi Shastri and Deep Dasgupta seemed taken aback when Rahul called the toss even before the match referee had fully completed the pre-toss formalities. The coin was tossed and the call made in such quick succession that Shastri reacted with surprise.
“Hang on, that was fast,” Shastri said during commentary, amused by Rahul’s hurried call.
Markram won the toss and chose to bowl first under overcast conditions, aiming to make early use of the pitch movement.
Despite the unexpected moment, Rahul appeared unfazed. He laughed off the scene and joined Markram for the brief post-toss discussion. For Team India, it was yet another toss loss adding to their streak of misfortune in recent fixtures.
This ODI marked the beginning of the three-match series, with India fielding a mix of experienced and young players. Rahul, standing in as captain, looked to guide the team following their T20I performances earlier in the tour.
Fans and pundits online joked about the “speed toss,” with many appreciating Shastri’s spontaneous reaction that brought humor to the situation.
Author’s summary: KL Rahul’s unusually fast toss action during the India–South Africa 1st ODI amused Ravi Shastri and highlighted the lighthearted moments that often arise in live cricket broadcasts.