Team India all-rounder Axar Patel believes the innings could have held much earlier had Rohit Sharma at first slip in the Champions Trophy 2025 clash against Bangladesh in Dubai. However, the Gujarat-born cricketer said he chose not to react that strongly, claiming, 'Sabke saath hota hai'.
With Axar dismissing Tanzid Tamim and Mushfiqur Rahim in back-to-back deliveries in his very first over, the left-arm spinner had his tails up. Jaker, who was the next man in, tamely prodded one to first slip and it flew at a comfortable height to Rohit at slip but the Indian skipper fluffed the opportunity. Had Rohit taken the catch, Axar would have joined Jerome Taylor to take a hat-trick in Champions Trophy history.
Speaking to Star Sports at the mid-innings break, he claimed:
"Honestly, I started celebrating when the ball went to Rohit Sharma. But then I realised he had dropped it. What to do. Sabke saath hota hai (happens with everybody). Their innings could have ended early. When it happened, I did not react much as I just turned back and went away."
Rohit Sharma perishes before leading India off to a breezy start
Rohit, meanwhile, took the onus on himself to provide a blazing start to the Men in Blue in Dubai. He cracked 7 boundaries before perishing to Taskin Ahmed as Rishad Hossain completed a smart catch.
Earlier, Bangladesh slumped to 35/5 inside ten overs. However, the 154-run partnership between Jaker Ali and Towhid Hridoy plotted their remarkable recovery. Hriody hit his maiden hundred to lift Bangladesh to 228.
