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'Rohit, Watch Your Pads', Steyn Issues 'Shaheen' Warning To Indian Captain

image-ln8hfd0yShaheen took four wickets against IND in Asia Cup (AP Photo)

Rohit Sharma maybe one of the modern-day greats of Indian batting in One-Day internationals but the experienced opener also has a documented history of struggles against prodigious swing and late movement. Particularly while facing the left-arm pacers. 

Aware of the elegant right-hander's longstanding problem, South Africa pace legend Dale Steyn issued Rohit a timely warning prior to the 2023 World Cup on home shores. Steyn identified a serious headache in the opposition camp for the Indian skipper to watch out for with a clear message: "Rohit, watch your pads". 

Speaking in a video interaction with ICC on the governing body's Instagram page, Steyn named five fast bowlers who can pose a genuine threat to batters and "could do some damage at 2023 World Cup." One of the leading quicks that the Proteas great earmarked for brilliance at the showpiece 50-overs event is Pakistan's young left-arm quick Shaheen Afridi. 

Steyn lavished a compliment on Afridi with a word on Rohit and his infamous trails with early swing versus left-arm quicks by sending a warning across to guard his pads against the Pakistani bowler. 

Rohit had dominated Shaheen in the two countries' recent Asia Cup Super 4 clash in Colombo but the bowler enjoyed their battle earlier in the tournament in Pallekele where he dismissed the esteemed Indian batter through the gate. 

Rohit and Shaheen will come face to face again in the much-anticipated 2023 World Cup league stage encounter in Ahmedabad on October 15 in an individual clash that could prove mighty influential to the result of the India-Pakistan contest. 

Before that, India will start off their tournament campaign with a major encounter against another of their historical arch-rivals. Rohit's men will be taking on five-time champions Australia in Chennai on October 8 and will also face rising Asian giant-killers Afghanistan in Delhi on October 11. 

Meanwhile, Steyn left fans shocked by excluding ace Indian speedster Jasprit Bumrah from his lift of five pacers who could cause serious damage at the World Cup. Along with Shaheen, the South African pace master named Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult and Mark Wood in his golden list.