Former Pakistani bowler Sikandar Bakht has claimed that, during the coin toss, Rohit Sharma intentionally throws the coin a long way to prevent the opposing skipper from seeing it.
Bakht mentioned in a discussion on a local sports program that Sharma’s tactic is aimed at increasing his chances of winning the toss by keeping the opposing captain in the dark. A video shared on X illustrates a comparison of Rohit Sharma’s coin toss technique, highlighting that he throws the coin at a greater distance than other captains.
Former Pakistan bowler Sikandar Bakht indicates India captain Rohit Sharma throws the coin far away at the toss so the opposition captain doesn't see it and he gets the decision in his favour 🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️
A new controversy 👀 #CWC23 #INDvsNZpic.twitter.com/zdzd3Zwrc7— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) November 15, 2023
The footage clearly shows Sharma launching the coin far during the toss, leading the match referee to promptly declare the toss in India’s favor. Notably, India secured a 70-run victory in the 1st semi-final of the 2023 World Cup, marking their fourth entry into the final. Winning the toss, India chose to bat first and set an imposing target of 398 runs. Virat Kohli played a pivotal role, achieving a milestone by reaching 50 centuries in One Day International cricket, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 centuries.
Furthermore, middle-order batsman Shreyas Iyer achieved a century, making it two consecutive centuries in the ongoing World Cup. In addition, India effectively defended their target, thanks to Mohammad Shami’s exceptional bowling performance.
Shami secured his third 5-wicket haul in this major event, taking a total of 7 wickets and conceding 57 runs in the match. Despite Daryl Mitchell’s resilient innings of 134 runs, New Zealand was bowled out for 327 runs.
