Toss ka boss: It's advantage to the team batting first in Tests in India

MS Dhoni and England captai Alastair Cook during the toss at Motera.

India may be closing in on a comprehensive win against England after the third day's play in Ahmedabad on Saturday, but a look at the records would suggest they actually won it when they won the toss.
The wicket at Motera has come under criticism for being absolutely flat and lifeless and crumbling almost from the start of play. Most experts have been saying since the first day of the ongoing Test that the result of a Test match in India depends largely on the toss, and this one is no exception.
In fact, toss has played a more than important role in the result of a Test match played on Indian soil for a long time now.
Before the ongoing Test, India had decided to bat first in 12 straight games where they won the toss - and won five of them, drawing six more and losing only one.
The last time an Indian captain decided to field first after winning the toss was way back in March 2006, when Rahul Dravid put England in at Wankhede Stadium and India lost that Test.
Incidentally, the lone Test India lost after deciding to bat first on winning the toss was at the same stadium - Ahmedabad - against South Africa in 2008. Other than that, India have won Tests against Australia, Sri Lanka, West Indies and New Zealand, and drawn against England on the 2008 tour and Pakistan in 2007, the last time they toured India.
However, this would be India's first win at Ahmedabad batting first after winning the toss. The last three times they played at Motera, India drew two and lost one.
Statistics may be read the way one wants to but the past 12 Tests only prove the experts right.