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Ind vs SA: India's pacesetters set the pace

Fast bowling quartet of Bhuvneshwar, Shami, Ishant and Bumrah has not only given South Africans a run for their money but also captain Kohli belief to win consistently overseas

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India pacers (clockwise from right) Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma have been impressive in the just-concluded Test series in South Africa, picking up 47 of the 60 wickets between them
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Two pieces of statistics stand out from India's 1-2 series loss to South Africa. Firstly, it was the first time ever that all 120 wickets up for grabs were taken in a three-match Test series. Secondly, it was the first time since 1986 that India were able to dismiss the opposition in all the innings of a Test series comprising three or more encounters outside the sub-continent.

While the first trivia reveals as much about the pitches on offer as the bowling attacks of both the sides, the second squarely goes to show the quality of the Indian pace unit that set foot in South Africa.

Yes, despite the commendable consolation victory in Johannesburg on a testing Wanderers track, Team India ought to receive some flak for its lack of preparations, dodgy selections and batting collapses in the first two Tests that led to defeat in a series that promised big things from Virat Kohli & Co.

But make no mistake, the bowling performance throughout the battle was the best put forward by an Indian cricket team away from the comforts of home in a long while.

Save the first day of the series where India leaked one run too many, the bowlers, particularly the pace pack, matched the might of the South African fast bowling armoury – considered the best in the world – and even outplayed it in the final Test.

Unlike in the past where Indian sides would often have a standout pacer or two – three, at the maximum – on overseas tours, this team has four of them, and the one sitting on the bench (Umesh Yadav) isn't too bad either.

What this fast bowling unit also presents is sustained pressure coupled with variety, which ensured the South African batsmen could never really take their foot off the pedal or settle down for the major part of the series.

If Bhuvneshwar Kumar swung the ball both ways at will, Mohammed Shami worked up a heady mixture of consistency with pace. If Ishant Sharma was India's lanky, hit-the-length bowler, Jasprit Bumrah provided the unpredictability factor that added the cherry to the cake.

No wonder, all four of them were neck and neck with the Proteas bowlers for most wickets in the series.

India didn't need spinners to engineer collapses anymore, the pacers were doing it for them this series.

"The bowlers were outstanding," India skipper Kohli said after the third Test on Saturday. "To take 60 wickets in a series, we have never done it away from home. Bowling has been the biggest positive for us out of this series. As a captain, I am really happy for them," he added.

The captain singled out Bumrah's evolution from a limited-overs specialist to a quality Test prospect in just his maiden series in white flannels as a big takeaway.

"He probably bowled with the experience of a guy who has played 40-50 games. He made life really difficult for the South African batsman," Kohli said.

"Bumrah fits perfectly into the ideal XI for us. He is someone that has given us breakthroughs when wanted in the series, he has bowled his heart out. So, I am really happy for him. He really wanted Test cricket badly and he has shown what a high-class bowler he is," he added.

High-class can be a term used to describe not just Bumrah, but this Indian pace attack as a whole.

And, just like South Africa found out in the final Test, England and Australia can dish out overtly pacer-friendly tracks at their own peril when India visit them over the course of this year.

"We need bowlers confident to win Tests," Kohli said. "As batsmen, we need to think about our game, prepare better and I'm sure we can win more often away from home."

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