Watch: Virat Kohli stops his celebration midway after Rohit Sharma drops sitter to deny Axar Patel his hat-trick

During the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match between India and Bangladesh at the Dubai International Stadium, Axar Patel was on the brink of writing history. The left-arm spinner was just one delivery away from becoming the first Indian bowler to take a hat-trick in Champions Trophy history. However, Rohit Sharma’s dropped catch at first slip denied Axar the milestone, with both the bowler and the entire Indian team in shock.

Bangladesh were in deep trouble after losing half their side for just 35 runs on the board. Mohammed Shami and young pacer Harshit Rana picked early wickets to put the Tigers on the back foot. However, it was Axar who grabbed the attention.

The 31-year-old struck twice in consecutive deliveries, dismissing Tanzid Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim. However, on the hat-trick delivery, Axar bowled a beautifully flighted off-break to Jaker Ali, who tried to defend the ball. The ball caught the outside edge and flew straight to Rohit at first slip, making it a straightforward catch. However, the Indian captain dropped the chance. Realizing his mistake, Rohit immediately slapped the ground in frustration. He later apologized to Axar, folding his hands. 

Meanwhile, Virat Kohli, stationed nearby, had already started celebrating in excitement of the historic hat-trick. As soon as he saw the ball slip through Rohit's hands, Kohli’s celebration was cut short, and he was frozen in disbelief.

Also Read: WATCH - Champions Trophy 2025: Rohit Sharma drops catch on Axar Patel’s hat-trick ball, slams ground in frustration

Furthermore, this chance not only cost the Gujarat bowler his hat-trick but also saw the opposition making a comeback in the game. Both Jaker and Hridoy have made the most of the opportunity, bringing up their 100-run partnership, as the score stands at 165/5 after 40 overs.