“I may take Axar for dinner tomorrow!” - Rohit Sharma

During the early stages of Bangladesh's innings in their 2025 ICC Champions Trophy opener against India, Rohit Sharma found himself in the spotlight for an unexpected reason. While standing in the first slip, he dropped an easy catch off Axar Patel, a miss that would later come to haunt him. The chance came after Axar had taken two quick wickets in the 9th over, dismissing Tanjid Hasan Tamim and Mushfiqur Rahim, setting up a potential hat-trick. Jaker Ali Anik, the new batter, then edged a simple catch to Rohit, but the Indian captain, clearly surprised by the ease of the opportunity, let the ball slip through his hands.

The moment was marked by visible frustration from Rohit, who slapped the ground in disbelief at his mistake. In the aftermath, the missed catch became a talking point in the post-match discussion.

In an interview, Rohit Sharma admitted, "It was a simple catch. I’ve set a standard for myself when standing in slip. But these things happen in cricket." He acknowledged that the drop had cost India the chance of a hat-trick and was visibly disappointed, although he handled it with good humor.

As the conversation turned to the missed opportunity, the interviewer, Harsha Bhogle, humorously remarked about the situation. Rohit, never one to shy away from a joke, responded with a lighthearted comment: "I might take Axar out for dinner tomorrow."

Rohit’s playful banter about buying Axar dinner lightened the mood after what could have been a costly mistake. Despite the dropped catch, India ultimately went on to win the match comfortably. However, the humorous moment between the two teammates showed the camaraderie within the team, even in the face of minor setbacks.