Sun Feb 09 16:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Axar Patel’s Dropped Catch Costs India in Second ODI Against England
**Cuttack, India** – A crucial fielding error by Axar Patel marred India’s performance in the second ODI against England in Cuttack. The incident occurred in the sixth over, with Hardik Pandya bowling. Pandya had Phil Salt seemingly caught, only for Axar to drop a straightforward catch, gifting the England batsman a reprieve.
The dropped catch visibly disappointed Pandya, who reportedly received multiple apologies from Axar. Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina, speaking on Sports 18, confirmed the incident, stating Axar apologized eight to ten times. Raina emphasized Axar’s unusual lapse in concentration, highlighting the fielder’s typically reliable performance. Raina also praised Hardik Pandya’s importance to the Indian team, predicting a key role for him in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
The match also saw changes in India’s lineup, with Virat Kohli replacing Yashasvi Jaiswal and Varun Chakravarthy making his ODI debut in place of the rested Kuldeep Yadav. India currently leads the three-match series 1-0 following their win in Nagpur. The rest of the report contained unrelated information about future cricket tours, matches, and predictions.
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