India captain Rohit Sharma found himself in the spotlight during India’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash against Bangladesh at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Despite India’s dominant performance with the ball, their fielding left much to be desired, with Rohit and Hardik Pandya dropping crucial catches.
The most significant moment came when Axar Patel was on a hat-trick. The left-arm spinner had already dismissed Tanzid Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim in consecutive deliveries, putting Bangladesh on the ropes. As Axar delivered a sharp ball outside off, Jaker Ali edged it straight to Rohit at first slip. The Indian skipper had ample time to grab the catch but shockingly spilled it, denying Axar what would have been his maiden ODI hat-trick.
Rohit, visibly frustrated, slammed the ground in disappointment before apologizing to Axar for the costly miss. His frustration was understandable, as a hat-trick at that stage could have completely dismantled Bangladesh’s batting lineup.
WATCH – Rohit Sharma’s Costly Drop Denies Axar Patel A Hat-Trick, Skipper Reacts With Frustration
If that wasn’t enough, India’s fielding woes continued when Hardik Pandya dropped Towhid Hridoy off Kuldeep Yadav’s bowling. Kuldeep, who had been troubling the batters with his variations, bowled a flighted delivery that Hridoy attempted to drive. The ball went flat towards mid-off, where Hardik misjudged the catch, allowing Bangladesh another lifeline. Rohit, watching from the slips, could only shake his head in disappointment.
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Despite these lapses, India’s bowlers remained relentless. Mohammed Shami set the tone with early wickets, while young pacer Harshit Rana made an impact in only his second over. Axar Patel’s disciplined spell further tightened India’s grip, reducing Bangladesh to a precarious 35/5.
WATCH – Harshit Rana Gives A Fiery Send-Off To Najmul Hossain Shanto
However, Jaker Ali and Towhid Hridoy showed resilience, staging a fightback with a solid fifty-run partnership. Their composed approach, mixing careful rotation of strike with well-placed boundaries, gave Bangladesh a glimmer of hope.
India will now aim to wrap up the innings quickly, keeping Bangladesh under 200 to secure a commanding win and improve their Net Run Rate, which could prove crucial in the latter stages of the tournament.
