Afghanistan vs India: Rohit Sharma Pulls Off Rare Hat-Trick of Catches In Chennai- WATCH

Afghanistan vs India: Former India captain Rohit Sharma delivered a stunning performance in the field during the third ODI against Afghanistan in Chennai, proving that his impact goes beyond batting. While hat-tricks are usually associated with bowlers, Rohit achieved a rare feat through his exceptional fielding, taking three consecutive catches to put Afghanistan on the back foot early in the innings.

His sharp reflexes and perfect positioning at slip played a crucial role in dismantling Afghanistan’s top order. The feat not only energized the Indian side but also drew widespread praise from fans, with videos of his effort quickly going viral across social media platforms.

Rohit’s Hat-Trick of Catches

Rohit Sharma’s brilliance unfolded within the first few overs of the innings, all off the bowling of Prasidh Krishna. The first breakthrough came in the second over when Rahmanullah Gurbaz edged an outswinger while attempting a drive. Rohit, stationed at first slip, reacted quickly to complete the catch.

The second dismissal followed in the sixth over when Rahmat Shah attempted a flick shot. The ball took the edge and flew towards slip, where Rohit moved swiftly to his left to grab another clean catch. Just two overs later, Ibrahim Zadran edged a cover drive straight into Rohit’s hands, completing a rare hat-trick of catches.

Here is the video of the Rohit’s hat-trick:

With this achievement, Rohit Sharma entered an elite list in Indian cricket. He became only the third Indian cricketer to take three catches off the same bowler in an innings, after VVS Laxman and Shikhar Dhawan. Additionally, he became the fourth Indian to claim the first three catches in an innings, joining the likes of Sourav Ganguly, Manoj Tiwary, and Suresh Raina.

Prasidh Krishna’s Early Impact

While Rohit’s fielding stole the spotlight, Prasidh Krishna’s bowling laid the foundation for the early breakthroughs. His disciplined line and movement troubled Afghanistan’s top order, resulting in three wickets within the powerplay.

He later added another scalp when Darwish Rasooli was caught by Shreyas Iyer, leaving Afghanistan struggling at 36/4 and under immense pressure early in the match.

Team Changes and Key Performances

India made three changes to their playing XI, bringing in Prasidh Krishna in place of Arshdeep Singh, along with Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harsh Dubey. Meanwhile, Afghanistan opted for four changes in their lineup.

Prasidh justified his selection with a match-defining spell, while Rohit Sharma’s exceptional fielding effort turned out to be one of the defining moments of the game.