The Indian team’s Champions Trophy 2025 opener against Bangladesh was a match filled with milestones and moments of brilliance but also some costly mistakes on the field. While Mohammed Shami became the fastest Indian to claim 200 ODI wickets, Rohit Sharma reached 11,000 ODI runs at an impressive pace and secured his 100th win as India’s captain. However, the game also had its share of missed chances that could have altered the course of the match.
One moment that stood out was an error in the slip cordon that will likely linger in the minds of Rohit Sharma and Axar Patel. With Bangladesh reeling at 35/5 after choosing to bat first, the duo had orchestrated a top-order collapse. The situation could have been even more disastrous for Bangladesh had Rohit held on to a straightforward catch at first slip, which would have dismissed Jaker Ali for a duck and given Axar a well-deserved hattrick.
Rohit’s reaction was immediate – frustration was evident as he slapped the ground before apologising to Axar by folding his hands for the missed opportunity. Addressing the dropped catch after the match, Rohit acknowledged the mistake and even joked about apologising by taking Axar Patel out for a dinner.
He admitted that it was an easy chance, one he would normally expect to take but accepted that such moments are part of the game. He also credited Towhid Hridoy and Jaker Ali for their resilient partnership, which helped Bangladesh recover from an early collapse.
India’s fielding woes did not end there. Hardik Pandya put down a simple catch at mid-off, while KL Rahul missed a stumping opportunity, allowing Jaker to extend his innings. These lapses proved costly as Hridoy, battling cramps, went on to register a fine century, while Jaker contributed 68 runs, helping Bangladesh reach a competitive 228 before being bowled out. Despite these errors, India comfortably chased down the target in 46.3 overs, with Shubman Gill anchoring the innings with an unbeaten century.
With this win, the Indian team now shifts focus to the much-anticipated clash against Pakistan in Dubai this Sunday.
