'Rohit, watch your pads!': Steyn warns India captain

South Africa legend Dale Steyn issued a warning to India captain Rohit Sharma while he was speaking about Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi. 

Steyn revealed the names of five fast bowlers, speaking on a video released by ICC on their Instagram page, "who could do some damage at 2023 World Cup." 

Among the pacers was Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi and the only remark Steyn made of him was rather directed towards the Indian captain as he said: "Rohit Sharma, watch your pads!"

India skipper has struggled against left-arm pacers and the moving ball as an opener in the last few years and Afridi is one of the fast bowlers he will need to be wary of in the tournament.

India will begin their campaign with a clash against five-time champions Australia in Chennai on October 08 before taking on Afghanistan in their next group-stage clash on October 11. India will lock horns with archrivals Pakistan in a high-profile clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 15. 

In a recent interview, heading in to the World Cup, India skipper Rohit had revealed that Steyn was the toughest bowler he faced in his career and surprisingly, a few days, the South Africa legend admitted that he rather faced difficulty in bowling to the India opener during his illustrious career, admitting that he managed to get the better of him only a handful of times.

It won't be an easy task for the bowlers as most of the Indian surfaces have very little to offer for the pace bowlers. Spinners will get the most assists but former South African pacer Dale Steyn has outlined his vision in this tournament. Steyn picked up his five bowlers to watch out for but the list surprisingly doesn't have Indian speedster Jasprit Bumrah.

Steyn's list comprises the number one ODI bowler Mohammed Siraj, Shaheen Afridi, Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult and Mark Wood. 

"Mohammed Siraj. He swings the ball upfront, knocks over the big batters, key player for India. Kagiso Rabada. One of my favourite bowlers to watch. South African, big bounce, lots of pace. Familiar with Indian conditions. Trent Boult. swing the ball upfront for New Zealand. Big wicket taker. I think he will be the leading wicket taker of this World Cup. Mark Wood. This man has extreme pace. I think he will take a lot of wickets for England. His fear factor is pace alone. it will get him ton of wickets," explained Steyn regarding other four pacers.