India all-rounder Axar Patel was robbed of a record hat-trick during the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20, as Rohit Sharma dropped a sitter catch in slips.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and, as is the norm, chose to bat first against India. Rohit Sharma revealed that Harshit Rana and Kuldeep Yadav were playing in place of Varun Chakaravarthy and Arshdeep Singh.

India pacers Mohammad Shami and Harshit Rana rattled the Bangladeshitop orderr as Shami removed Soumya Sarkar for a duck, and Harshit Rana dismissed captain Shanto for a duck as well. Mehidy Hasan Miraz looked dangerous, but Shami dismissed him for 5 runs.

Then Axar Patel struck twice in two balls in his first over as he had Tanzid Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim caught behind by KL Rahul in the 9^th over. There was a huge chance for Axar to become the first Indian to take a hat-trick in the Champions Trophy tournament.

The stage was set with Rohit Sharma in the first slip, a second slip, and a leg slip as well, with Jaker Ali on strike. Axar bowled the perfect loopy delivery on off-stump, and Ali tried to defend on the front foot. He edged the ball at good height to Rohit Sharma.

However, the ball went through Rohit Sharma’s hands and the catch was dropped by the India captain. He was distraught, while Axar and other Indian players were shocked. Rohit Sharma even said sorry to Axar with folded hands, as the chance went begging.

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Axar’s brilliant bowling left Bangladesh struggling at 35/5 after 9 overs.