It was a moment that could have changed the course of the game, and perhaps even history, for Axar Patel. The Indian cricketer was on the cusp of achieving a remarkable hat-trick, having already taken the wickets of Tanjid Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim in consecutive balls. However, his dream was shattered when captain Rohit Sharma dropped a catch off the very next ball, denying Patel his well-deserved hat-trick. The ball, edges by Zakir Ali, was spilled by Sharma, leaving him banging his hand on the ground in frustration.
This dramatic turn of events unfolded in the 9th over of Bangladesh’s innings, with Axar Patel making his first over count. Tanjid Hasan, who was looking set, fell to Patel on the second ball, caught by KL Rahul for 25 runs. The very next ball saw Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh’s stalwart batsman, walking back to the pavilion. With Zakir Ali at the crease, the stage was set for Patel to complete his hat-trick. Unfortunately, Rohit Sharma’s drop meant that the opportunity slipped through their fingers.
Fans React to the Drop
The fans were quick to react to the dropped catch, taking to social media to express their disappointment. Many were seen trolling Rohit Sharma, with some even drawing comparisons with other players. As one fan tweeted, “Rohit Sharma apologized to Axar Patel with his folded hands after the catch drop. Chokli Didn’T do this after dropping the catch of Travis Head in the 1st over of WC Final.” Another fan quipped, “How can Rohit Sharma drop such an easy catch & deny Axar Patel a well-deserved hat-trick in ICC Tournament? And then that genda behavior.”
However, not all fans were critical of Rohit Sharma. Some came to his defense, acknowledging that even the best players can have off days. As one fan tweeted, “Rohit Sharma, What a Superstar 🤩 !! To Drop a Catch & Catch Your Breath Requires Courage… More Power to You… Respect 🙌 !!”
The drama surrounding the dropped catch has sparked a heated debate among fans, with some hailing Rohit Sharma as a true leader and others criticizing his mistake. Nevertheless, one thing is certain – Axar Patel’s near-hat-trick will be remembered for a long time, and the what-ifs will continue to haunt Indian cricket fans.