Axar Patel recently opened up about an unfulfilled promise made by Indian captain Rohit Sharma during the Champions Trophy match against Bangladesh. Rohit had assured Axar that he would take him to dinner after accidentally dropping a catch that denied Axar a hat-trick. Axar, who had already dismissed Tanzid Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim in consecutive deliveries, was on the verge of a rare hat-trick when Rohit missed an easy catch of Towhid Hridoy.
Although Hridoy went on to score a century, India successfully chased down Bangladesh’s total of 228. Despite Rohit’s promise, Axar humorously revealed that he is still waiting for his dinner and intends to remind the Indian skipper soon, especially now that the team has secured a semi-final spot.
Axar’s Performance and Kohli’s Century
While Axar has picked up three wickets in the tournament, his batting contributions have been limited so far. However, he played a crucial role in India’s recent match against Pakistan. Walking in when India needed 19 runs to win, Axar ensured that Virat Kohli reached his 51st ODI century by hitting the winning runs. Reflecting on the high-pressure game, Axar expressed his admiration for Kohli’s fitness and determination.
He shared that witnessing Kohli run between the wickets after fielding for 50 overs was inspiring. Axar also admitted that he was doing the math towards the end to ensure Kohli completed his century without any mishaps. His composed approach ultimately helped India seal a memorable victory.
Recognition from Shikhar Dhawan
Axar’s fielding efforts did not go unnoticed, as he was awarded the fielder of the match medal by former Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan. The Indian dressing room erupted in cheers as Dhawan praised the team’s bowling performance, highlighting Kuldeep Yadav’s three-wicket haul.
He also lauded the batting efforts of Kohli and Shubman Gill, commending their consistency. Dhawan’s words served as a motivating factor for the team as they prepared for their upcoming clash against New Zealand. With India enjoying a brief break before their final group-stage match, Axar remains hopeful that Rohit Sharma will finally treat him to the promised dinner.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
