Axar Patel answered the million dollar question on whether India captain Rohit Sharma kept his promise of taking the star spinner out on dinner or not. Apparently, after dropping Jaker Ali's catch during Champions Trophy clash against Bangladesh which denied Axar Patel a coveted Champions Trophy hat-trick, Rohit Sharma promised to take the left-arm spinner for a dinner. However, Axar has now revealed whether the promise has been fulfilled or not.
Rohit Sharma denied Axar Patel a Champions Trophy hat-trick
Following India's win over Bangladesh in the Champions Trophy 2025 on February 20, Axar engaged in some playful banter with his captain, Rohit Sharma. This exchange stemmed from a near-hat-trick moment during the match. Axar had successfully taken two wickets in consecutive deliveries, dismissing Tanzid Tamim and Mushfiqur Rahim, placing him on the cusp of a rare hat-trick achievement. However, Rohit Sharma, fielding in the slips, dropped a relatively simple catch, denying Axar the opportunity to complete the feat.
In the post-match presentation Rohit Sharma jokingly pledged to compensate Axar for the dropped catch by taking him out for dinner. Had Rohit successfully caught the ball, Axar Patel would have become only the second player in Champions Trophy history to record a hat-trick.
Later Axar came up with a social media post where he playfully reminder Rohit about dinner promise
"Wickets in the bag, win on the board… @ImRo45 Dinner pending hai 😆😂," Axar wrote on X.
Did Rohit Sharma keep his dinner promise? Axar Patel reveals
The question on everyone's mind has been whether Rohit Sharma followed through on his promise to take Axar out for dinner, or at least treat him to a meal, as a gesture of compensation for a dropped catch. This playful speculation arose from a moment of on-field camaraderie, and fans were eager to know if the Indian captain had made good on his word. However, as of now, it appears that the dinner promise hasn't been fulfilled on Rohit's side yet.
"We have a six-day break I think we have qualified as well. So, I think now I will have a chance to ask him for my dinner," Axar said while speaking to the ICC.
Axar disclosed that he, Rohit, and the rest of the Indian team are currently enjoying a week of downtime, providing an opportunity for relaxation, strategic planning, and, crucially, the long-awaited dinner. The team's next match is scheduled for Sunday, March 2, against New Zealand. Despite both teams having already secured their places in the semi-finals, this encounter will serve as a perfect dress rehearsal for both India and New Zealand. A win would propel either team to the top of Group A, a position offering a strategic advantage. The group leader will face the second-placed team from Group B in the first semi-final on March 5, granting the winner a valuable three-day preparation period before the final on March 9. Notably, Rohit's India will play in the first semifinal in Dubai on March 4 while Mitchell Santer's New Zealand will play the second semis on March 5 in Lahore.