Updated On: 23 October, 2022 07:39 AM IST | Melbourne | R Kaushik
Pakistan present a formidable challenge to India. Not just because they won the last World Cup game between the two sides exactly 12 months back or because they bested Rohit & Co in the Asia Cup but due to the plethora of exceptional talent coming through

Skipper Rohit Sharma during India’s practice session at Melbourne on Saturday. Pic/AFP
Rohit Sharma seemed momentarily taken aback when it was pointed out to him on Saturday afternoon that in the 35 Twenty20 Internationals India have played since the last T20I World Cup in November last year, they have tried out 29 players.
“29?” he asked, his eyes widening slightly, his thick brows coming together in surprise. Soon, though, he made peace with that massive number, for it meant the process of sifting through the chaff and arriving at the personnel best suited to fuel India’s campaign at this World Cup had been comprehensively thorough.