India, Feb. 25 -- In two matches, two Indian bowlers were on a hat-trick. Axar Patel against Bangladesh, and Kuldeep Yadav versus Pakistan. Of the two, one hat-trick was guaranteed when Axar induced the batter into playing a false stroke and edge the ball. The only problem? Rohit Sharma, who at first slip, dropped the catch to deny his bowler a maiden ODI hat-trick. The captain punched the ground in anger, apologised to Axar and even promised him dinner after the game, but irrespective, the left-arm spinner finished with 2/43 when he could have had at least three.

The bigger picture was India beating Bangladesh by a sound margin of six wickets and then improving their record against Pakistan in ICC events two days later. Axar was again o...