During India's six-wicket victory over Bangladesh in Dubai on Thursday, February 20 at the Champions Trophy 2025, an interesting incident unfolded involving captain Rohit Sharma and all-rounder Axar Patel. Axar, who played an instrumental role in the win by taking two wickets, was on cusp of taking a coveted hat-trick. But, Rohit Sharma, fielding in the slips, unfortunately dropped a catch, denying Axar the hat-trick. However, Rohit immediately admitted his mistake and after the match promised to make it up to Axar by treating him to dinner.
Bangladesh's innings had gotten off to a shaky start, with Mohammed Shami and Harshit Rana causing a batting collapse. Axar was brought into the attack in the ninth over and immediately made an impact, dismissing both Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Mushfiqur Rahim with consecutive deliveries. On the crucial hat-trick ball, Jaker Ali edged a delivery towards the slips, where Rohit Sharma was stationed. Despite the chance, Rohit couldn't hold on to the catch, visibly frustrating himself. He slapped the ground in disappointment and offered a sincere apology to Axar with folded hands. At that point in the game, Bangladesh were struggling at 35/5. Had the catch been taken, Bangladesh would have been 35/6, and Axar Patel would have celebrated a well-deserved hat-trick.
In the post-match presentation ceremony, commentator Harsha Bhogle addressed the dropped catch with Rohit Sharma. Rohit readily admitted that it was a simple chance that he should have converted. With a touch of humor, he acknowledged his mistake, suggesting that he might have to compensate Axar for the missed opportunity by treating him to dinner.
"I thought you were mentioning about the dropped catch. I may take him for a dinner tomorrow [he dropped a catch that would've given Axar a hat-trick]. That was an easy catch, I should have taken that catch, the standards I have set standing in the slips but these things happen,” Rohit said in the post-match presentation.
Following Rohit's remakr about making up for the dropped catch with dinner, Axar Patel took to X to playfully remind India captain of his promise, ensuring the dinner wouldn't be forgotten.
"Wickets in the bag, win on the board… @ImRo45 Dinner pending hai 😆😂," Patel wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).
After getting the reprieve, Jaker Ali went on to score a valuable 68 runs off 114 balls to take Bangladesh from a precarious 35/5 to 228 in 49.4 overs. In reply, India rode on Shubman Gill's century to chase down the 229-run target with 21 balls remaining.