Rohit Sharma dropped a catch which led to Axar Patel missed out on a hat-trick |courtesy - screengrab - (JioHotstar)
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Axar Patel missed out on a chance to get a hat-trick
- Rohit Sharma dropped a catch at first slip
- Axar took two wickets in two balls of his first over
Axar Patel missed on the unique chance of being the first spinner in the history of the Champions Trophy to take a hat-trick during India's opening match of the 2025 edition against Bangladesh at the Dubai International Stadium on Thursday (February 20).
After being called into the bowling attack by Rohit Sharma in the ninth over of the match, Axar had an immediate impact as he dismissed Taniz Hasan (25 of 25) and Mushfiqur Rahim (0 of 1). Both wickets had a similar pattern as the batters edged a delivery which were caught by wicket-keeper KL Rahul.
Axar created a golden chance to create a hat-trick as Jaker Ali also edged his first delivery towards Rohit at first slip. However, the Indian captain dropped a relatively simple catch. The 37-year-old was evidently fuming at himself and beat the ground in frustration. Visuals also showed him apologising to Axar after the incident.
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West Indies' Jerome Taylor is the only bowler in the history of the competition to take hat-trick. The pacer achieved the feat against Australia in 2006 at Mumbai's Brabourne Stadium when he got the wickets of Michael Hussey, Brett Lee, and Brad Hogg.
Talking about the match, Bangladesh won the toss and chose to bat first in a decision that immediately backfired. Mohammed Shami and Harshit Rana took a wicket in their respective first overs of the match as the 2017 semi-finalist lost two wickets in the first overs with Soumya Sarkar and Najmul Shanto departing for ducks. Later, Shami also got the wicket of Mehidy Hasan Miraj (5 in 10 balls) in the sixth over.
Axar's stunning first over meant that Bangladesh lost half their side in the first powerplay and were 39-5 after the 10th over.
Towrid Hridoy also got a second chance as Hardik Pandya dropped his catch at mid-off in the 20th over, which was Kuldeed Yadav's first of the afternoon. In the 22nd over, KL Rahul missed a stumping chance from Ravindra Jadeja's bowling of Jaker Ali.
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