India captain Rohit Sharma failed to take an easy catch at first slip and smacked the ground in despair, on February 20 (Thursday). Spinner Axar Patel might have scored his first hat-trick in ODI cricket, but Rohit's missed catch prevented him from doing so. In India's opening group-stage encounter against Bangladesh at the Dubai International Stadium, Axar Patel produced an incredible opening spell.
Axar got rid of Mushfiqur Rahim and Tanzid Hasan in his first over. India skipper Rohit Sharma introduced three slips to offer the spinner the best chance of taking the third wicket while Axar was tearing up the field against Bangladesh.
Shreyas Iyer stood at the leg slip position, while Rohit and Shubman Gill manned the first and second slips. With Bangladesh reeling, Axar delivered another beautiful delivery just outside off, capturing Jaker Ali's outside edge. The India captain was standing at the first slip when the heavy edge sailed right there. Despite having plenty of time to catch the ball to his left, Rohit lost the opportunity.
Axar Patel on missing the hat-trick
The star all-rounder did not hold anything against captain Rohit Sharma and said it is part of the game. However, he revealed celebrating the hat-trick but the catch was eventually dropped.
"A lot happened. I didn't know if it (Tanzid Hasan wicket) was out, but KL appealed and it was out. Then I go the second wicket. The third one, when the edge was found, I thought I got my hat-trick. It was an eventful over. I started to celebrate and then I saw it (Rohit dropping the catch). I didn't react and just came back. It's part of the game," said Axar Patel after the end of Bangladesh's innings.
"The wicket got easier to bat and I think it's an easy total to chase. It's a slow wicket and as the ball gets older, it gets easier to bat. Second innings, it'll continue to remain slow. My role is to contribute whenever my team needs. Happy that the team trusts me a lot," he added.
Towhid Hridoy's century
India managed to get five wickets inside the first five overs. After Mohammed Shami and Harshit Rana combined to take the first three wickets, Axar's twin strikes reduced Bangladesh to 35 for five.
Later a 154-run partnership between Towhid Hridoy and Jaker Ali staged the comeback of the Bangladesh sideShami once again provided his team with a crucial breakthrough after dismissing Ali in the 43rd over. He returned to the dugout after scoring crucial 68 runs but his knock came from 114 balls with a strike rate of 59.65.
However, even after Ali's departure Hridoy continued to progress the scoreboard and completed his century. He became the fifth Bangladesh batter to hit a century in the Champions Trophy after Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Shahriar Nafees, and Mahmudullah. He is also the ninth batter to hit hundred on Champions Trophy debut.
Although India bowled out Bangladesh on 228 runs they would be happy with the score they have managed on the board. At one point, they were at 35/5 but what could have been a disastrous outing was turned around by Towhid Hridoy and Jaker Ali. Mohammed Shami picked up an astonishing fifer and was the star pick of all bowlers. Meanwhile, Harshit Rana took three and Axar Patel settled with one. India need to score 229 runs to win this match