 "Champions Trophy 2025: Rohit says he might take Axar out for dinner after denying spinner hat-trick against Bangladesh")
Rohit Sharma promised to make it up to Axar Patel for denying him a hat-trick by taking him out for dinner following India's victory over Bangladesh in the Champions Trophy on Thursday. Axar had struck twice in as many deliveries, dismissing Bangladeshi opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim and senior wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim, and nearly completed a hat-trick after Jaker Ali nicked his first delivery towards Rohit standing at slip.
The ‘Hitman’ however, denied the left-arm finger spinner the coveted feat by spilling the regulation catch that came his way , giving Jaker a reprieve on nought as a result. Jaker would go on to forge a mammoth 154-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Towhid Hridoy (100), helping Bangladesh cross 200 after getting reduced to 35/5 inside the powerplay.
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“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 at the post-match presentation ceremony.
The score of 228 was a massive improvement from the position they found themselves in at the end of the first powerplay, at which point it appeared as if they would struggle to cross 100. Bangladesh would also stage a fightback with the ball later in the evening as despite the fiery start provided by Rohit, they would have the Men in Blue in a spot of bother by reducing them to 144/4.
Rohit’s opening partner Shubman Gill (101 not out), however, stood tall and fought his way to his eighth ODI hundred, forging an unbroken 87-run alliance with KL Rahul (41 not out) as the pair got India home with six wickets and nearly four overs to spare.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“Before you come and play you got to be confident. As the game goes on there are different emotions that come through. But there is a lot of experience in that dressing room. Gill and KL played really well.
“Gill, we know the class that he has, Shouldn’t surprise anyone. It was good to see him bat till the end,” Rohit added during the presentation ceremony.
Also Read | Shubman Gill reacts to his century, says 'most satisfying innings that I have played'
The 37-year-old also heaped praise on Mohammed Shami, who appeared to have carried on from where he left off in the 2023 ICC World Cup with a five-for (5/53) that helped India bowl Bangladesh out for 228.
“Very happy for him (Shami), long time waiting. We know what he brings to us. We need guys like him to stand up when we need,” Rohit added.
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