MELBOURNE: Team India captain Rohit Sharma sweated it out in an optional net session on Friday taking on left-handed throwdowns to prepare for Shaheen Shah Afridi‘s pace, swing and bounce in the marquee ‘Super 12‘ clash here against Pakistan on October 23 in the T20 World Cup.
Rohit took on the fast throw-downs from both right- and left-handed throwers trying to replicate Pakistan’s bowling line-up that boasts of quick bowlers like Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah.
Pakistan’s bowling line-up has received a huge boost with the return of Afridi who was sidelined due to a knee injury.

The left-arm pacer dismissed Sharma and KL Rahul in last year’s T20 World Cup, helping Pakistan secure a win over India.
Sharma also had a long chat with the team’s head coach Rahul Dravid during the net session.
KARTHIK OR PANT IN PLAYING XI
It is highly unlikely that Rishabh Pant will make it to the playing eleven against Pakistan as the youngster opted out of the optional net session and Dinesh Karthik spent quality time in the nets in long batting and keeping practice.

Jasprit Bumrah’s replacement in the squad, Mohammad Shami, also toiled hard and bowled impressively in the nets. He has shown signs of being in form after he defended 11 runs against Australia in a warm-up game, also taking three wickets in the over.
Deepak Hooda also walked out for a net session to work on his batting.
Shardul Thakur and Mohammad Siraj, the playing reserves for India in the T20 World Cup squad, bowled to the Indian batters, preparing for the matches if an opportunity arises.

India’s star players Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal and Bhuvneshwar Kumar chose to take rest to keep their bodies fresh for India’s opening match.
India Squad: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammad Shami
Standby Players: Mohammed Siraj, Shreyas Iyer, Ravi Bishnoi, Shardul Thakur