Virat Kohli has got a good attack at his disposal: Ricky Ponting

India might have lost the Test series’ in South Africa and England this year but one cannot deny the fact that Virat Kohli and Co. had given the hosts a run for their money in almost every match. The failure to pounce on the opportunities cost India dear as they got ample chances of winning the series’ in both countries. And it wouldn’t be wrong to assert that one of the biggest reasons behind the team’s outstanding performances was the pacers’ show.

Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma have spat fire in almost every game. Their latest heroics came in the Boxing Day Test as India beat Australia by 137 runs to take an unassailable 2-1 lead in the four-match series. At the end of the game, the trio created history by breaking the record for most wickets by a pace-trio in a calendar year set by Windies greats- Joel Garner, Malcolm Marshall and Michael Holding (130 wickets) in 1984.

The highly-rated Indian pace-troika finished the year with a staggering 136 wickets. Bumrah was the most successful of the three Indian pacers with 48 wickets from 9 Tests, along with Shami who took his 47 wickets from 12 Tests. Ishant Sharma, on the other hand, took 41 wickets from 11 Tests. Another feat achieved by the Indian cricket team is the highest haul of wickets ever in a calendar year, with 257 wickets in 14 matches, bettering the long-standing record of 237 wickets from 17 games in the year 1979.

Ponting praises attack

Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting has lavished praise on India’s attack after the visitors’ thumping win in Melbourne. The legendary batsman opined that India had arrived in Australia with their best-ever pace attack, which has shone due to its variety.

“Full credit to (Virat Kohli). He’s got a good attack at his disposal It’s certainly their best attack to come to Australia. They’re all slightly different as well – to pick a really good attack, you’ve got to have guys that are a bit different and all work really well. That’s what India have done really well,” Ponting told cricket.com.au.

India, meanwhile, have retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and will be looking to win their first-ever Test series in Australia when they take on the hosts in the final Test in Sydney, starting Thursday, January 3.

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