Thu Feb 20 16:46:42 UTC 2025: ## Rohit Sharma’s Costly Drop Costs Axar Patel Historic Hat-Trick
**Mirpur, Bangladesh:** Indian captain Rohit Sharma’s frustration was palpable after he dropped a crucial catch, denying Axar Patel a historic hat-trick in the first ODI against Bangladesh. The missed catch, which occurred with Bangladesh on 35/5, proved incredibly costly as the resulting partnership between Jaker Ali and Towhid Hridoy propelled Bangladesh to a competitive 228/8.
Axar had deceived Ali, leaving the ball to edge towards Rohit at slip. The Indian captain, however, failed to secure the catch, leading to a furious self-recrimination that included pounding the ground and profuse apologies to Axar. Legendary commentator Sunil Gavaskar noted the incident, stating, “A dropped catch can happen, but a drop catch on a hat-trick ball will be remembered for a long time.”
The missed opportunity was particularly significant as it would have been Axar’s first-ever hat-trick in any format of the game. Only four Indian bowlers have achieved the feat in ODIs.
The drop catch marked a downturn in India’s fielding performance. While early catches by Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill showcased sharp fielding, subsequent drops by Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul, coupled with lackluster ground fielding, allowed Bangladesh to recover strongly. The sloppy fielding ultimately contributed to Bangladesh’s respectable total, leaving India with a challenging chase.
First Piper 