Thu Feb 20 23:01:34 UTC 2025: ## Rohit Sharma’s Drop Costs Axar Patel Hattrick, But India Wins ICC Champions Trophy Opener
**Dubai, UAE** – India began their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign with a comfortable six-wicket victory over Bangladesh, but the match was marked by a costly dropped catch by captain Rohit Sharma. Sharma’s failure to take a simple catch robbed left-arm spinner Axar Patel of a hattrick.
Axar had already dismissed Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Mushfiqur Rahim in consecutive balls, setting the stage for a historic feat. However, a thick edge off Jaker Ali’s bat went straight to Sharma at first slip, only to be inexplicably dropped. This prevented Axar from becoming only the second bowler after Jerome Taylor to achieve a hattrick in the Champions Trophy.
Sharma acknowledged his mistake, stating, “That was an easy catch, I should have taken that catch. May take him (Axar) for dinner tomorrow (smiles).”
Despite the dropped catch, India’s victory was never in doubt. Bangladesh, after a shaky start where they lost their first three wickets in the seventh over, recovered to post 228 all out thanks to a century by Towhid Hridoy. Mohammed Shami impressed on his return to ICC tournaments with a five-wicket haul.
India’s chase was anchored by a brilliant century from Shubman Gill (101 off 129 balls), who steered the team to victory with six wickets to spare. Rohit praised both Gill and Shami’s performance.
India’s next match is against Pakistan on Sunday in Dubai.
First Piper 