Champions Trophy 2025: Axar Patel's Hat-Trick Hopes Dashed as Rohit Sharma Drops Crucial Catch

In the much-awaited Champions Trophy 2025 match between India and Bangladesh on February 20 at Dubai International Stadium, India all-rounder Axar Patel was on the verge of a historic hat-trick but was prevented at the last second. Indian captain Rohit Sharma shocked fans in a moment when he dropped the simplest of catches at slips off Jaker Ali, denying Axar Patel his first international hat-trick.

With two wickets in two balls, the stunning left-arm spinner had Bangladesh reeling and was poised to take a hat-trick, creating an incredible moment. However, the opportunity was lost due to a fielding error by Indian captain Rohit Sharma, leaving both players disappointed.

Rohit was unable to hold on despite timing his move perfectly and even getting both hands on it. Additionally, Rohit was seen apologizing to his bowler after hitting the ground four or five times in frustration. Patel was stunned by his good fortune and had his hands on his head. He had taken the opening two wickets with outstanding bowling. Hasan's wicket on the second ball was nearly identical to Jaker's drop, but Rahul was able to grab it because of its finer edge.

Champions Trophy 2025 Tragedy:

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE ROHIT 😯

Axar Patel misses out on a hatrrick vs Bangladesh as Rohit Sharma dropped a sitter in the slip region. pic.twitter.com/6h7txDasEN

— Sports Production (@SSpotlight71) February 20, 2025

When Axar entered the bowling position in the ninth over, the match was beautifully poised. Axar scored twice in two deliveries as Bangladesh was trying to rebuild the innings after losing three quick wickets. With another peach of a delivery, he first got Tanzid Hasan and then Mushfiqur Rahim. KL Rahul, the wicketkeeper, made two superb catches behind the stumps.

Even though Patel didn't hear the edge, Hasan left after choosing against a review, and the umpire gave in to Rahul's request. UltraEdge later demonstrated that the deflection was evident. Rahim, one of Bangladesh's greatest spin spinners ever, was unable to respond to a magnificent length ball that pitched in the middle and veered just out of his line of sight on the following delivery. This time, the edge was far more obvious, and the dismissal was accepted without question.

After Chetan Sharma, Kapil Dev, Mohammed Shami, and Kuldeep Yadav, Patel could have become the sixth Indian player to win a hat-trick in ODIs and the first to do so in the Champions Trophy.

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