Watch: Axar Patel suffers FREAK neck injury in CT 2025 semi-final

Axar Patel has given an injury scare to the India National Cricket Team in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal against the Australia National Cricket Team at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on Tuesday (March 4).

After delivering the fourth ball of the 16th over, Axar Patel awkwardly fell while fielding off his own bowling. The scary incident unfolded when the left-arm spinner delivered a full-length ball on middle stump to Marnus Labuschagne, who defended it towards the bowler’s right.

Axar Patel hurt while fielding off his own bowling in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Semifinal against Australia

The Indian all-rounder reacted quickly, rushing to collect the ball, but while attempting to throw it back, he lost balance and fell awkwardly, landing on his neck. Axar immediately held his neck in pain, as the physio had to rush onto the field to treat the 31-year-old.

Read Also: Watch: Mohammed Shami injured during CT 2025 semi-final? Pacer goes off the field for treatment

Meanwhile, the umpires signaled for the drinks break, as Axar Patel was receiving treatment for his injury. However, after brief treatment, the spinner was able to complete his over, as he conceded six runs in that 16th over against Australia in the ongoing semifinal clash in Dubai.

pic.twitter.com/COgd1a8eL1

— Drizzyat12Kennyat8 (@45kennyat7PM) March 4, 2025

Steve Smith survived twice in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Semi Final

Earlier, a strange incident unfolded on the last ball of the 14th over when Steve Smith got a thick inside edge off a delivery that was angling in from Axar Patel. The Australian skipper got a thick inside edge onto his pad, and the ball slowly rolled back towards the stumps.

The ball made clear contact with the base of the off-stump, but in a surprising turn of events, the bails did not fall. Since the zing bails didn’t light up, Smith got a lucky escape and continued batting. However, the ball hit the stumps, but the rules state a batter is only out if the bails fall off completely. This rare sight shocked the Indian team and fans, while Australia felt relieved.

Ball hits the stumps but damn Those Zing bails are heavy ✊
Smithy 😳 #championstrophy2025 pic.twitter.com/RrupcVuqCl

— Damien Fleming (@bowlologist) March 4, 2025

In the next delivery, there was another missed opportunity for India. Smith had flicked a delivery towards fine leg and set off for a quick single, but his batting partner Marnus Labuschagne wasn’t interested and sent him back. Varun Chakaravarthy had a chance to run Smith out but fumbled while collecting the ball, giving the Australian skipper a lifeline in the crucial game.

Rohit Sharma aims to take revenge of 2023 ODI World Cup final from Australia

Meanwhile, India last played Australia in the ODI cricket in the 2023 World Cup final, which left millions of Indian fans heartbroken. Australia not only lifted the trophy but also silenced a packed Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Now, as the two teams are up against each other in another high-stakes ICC knockout game, the Men in Blue would love to take that revenge in style.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma said on the eve of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal in Dubai, "Australia has been a great team over the years. So, we will expect some fightbacks. We will expect some nervy times as well in the middle."