Rohit Sharma Offers Dinner to Axar Patel for Missing Catch, Denying India All-Rounder Hat-Trick in Champions Trophy

India captain Rohit Sharma showed great sportsmanship by promising to take teammate Axar Patel out for dinner after dropping a crucial catch that denied the all-rounder a maiden hat-trick in the Champions Trophy Group A match at the Dubai International Stadium. In the 9th over of Bangladesh's innings, Axar Patel dismissed Tanzid Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim in consecutive balls, putting Bangladesh in a tough spot. With the possibility of a hat-trick looming, Rohit Sharma strategically placed fielders to support Axar. Despite Axar delivering a perfect ball to Jaker Ali that resulted in an outside edge, Rohit, positioned at first slip, couldn't hold on to the catch. Despite the missed opportunity, Rohit's gesture of treating Axar to dinner showcased his camaraderie and team spirit.

Axar would have been the first Indian to take a hat-trick in the Champions Trophy but it wasn't to be. The drop catch hurt India dearly as Jaker Ali went on to his 68 and forged Bangladesh's highest ODI partnership (154) for any wicket with Towhid Hridoy. If Rohit had taken his catch in the first slip in the powerplay, Bangladesh would have been reduced to 35/6, but instead, they went on to post 228, a competitive total on a pitch that became more and more difficult as the game progressed.

Thankfully for Rohit and India, Shubman Gill hit his 8th ODI century as India chased down the target with six wickets in hand to get off to a winning start in the Champions Trophy.

‘I may take him for dinner tomorrow’: Rohit to Axar Patel

After the match, Rohit was asked about his drop catch, and the Indian captain said he should have taken that catch, considering the high standards he sets for himself in the field. "I may take him (Axar) for dinner tomorrow. No, that was an easy catch, I should have taken that catch with the standards I have set for myself. But I do know these things are bound to happen. Credit to Hridoy and Jaker, they stitched a nice partnership," Rohit said with a big smile.

Rohit also gave an interesting reaction when Jaker Ali returned the favour by dropping KL Rahul's catch during India's chase. The Indian captain was seen giggling and saying, "I dropped you".

Shami, Gill shine in India's win

Pace spearhead Mohammed Shami set up victory with figures of 5-53, helping reduce Bangladesh to 35-5 in his opening spell before they recovered to manage 228 all out after electing to bat first.

In reply, India started strongly as Rohit Sharma and Gill got going with regular boundaries. Rohit became just the 10th batsman -- and fourth from India -- to surpass 11,000 ODI runs.

The India captain made 41 before he was dismissed by fast bowler Taskin Ahmed and Virat Kohli walked in to loud cheers from the crowd at a largely empty stadium.

Kohli took 10 balls to get his first run and made 22 before mis-timing a late cut to backward point off leg-spinner Rishad Hossain.

India lost two more wickets after Rishad and Mustafizur Rahman removed Axar Patel and Shreyas Iyer to put India in trouble at 144-4.

But vice-captain Gill, who was player of the series with 259 runs in India's 3-0 ODI sweep of England last week, kept calm as he and KL Rahul took the team home in an unbeaten 87-run stand.

Rahul finished 41 not out but was dropped early in his innings by Jaker at deep mid-wicket and India never faltered after that with Gill reaching his eighth ODI century.

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