The force behind India’s overseas wins: The fiery pace attack

The Indian side experienced a stellar run in Test cricket in 2021, especially overseas. The team started the year by beating Australia 2-1 in a four-match Test series, including their famous win in the Australian fortress, The Gabba.

India then went down to New Zealand in the summit clash of the World Test Championship (WTC). This was followed by a Test series against England in England, and the Virat Kohli-led outfit is leading the series 2-1, with the final game of the series slated to be played in 2022.

Kohli and his boys ended the year in style as well and thrashed South Africa by 113 runs at Centurion. Out of eight overseas Tests played in 2021, India have managed to win four, and have lost only two.

India pace bowling has been story for me this series. They have brought seam, a bit of swing, relentless accuracy and menace, both with the new and the old ball #INDvSA

— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) October 21, 2019

And, at the heart of this success have been the Indian fast bowlers. Kohli has, time and again, emphasized the need to pick up 20 wickets to win a Test match, and the Indian fast bowling attack has managed to produce a stellar performance this year in overseas Tests.

Away success

At The Gabba, the Indian pacers picked up 16 out of the 20 wickets to fall to fashion India’s victory. Now, let us come to India’s victories in England. At Lord’s where India thrashed England by 157 runs, the Indian pacers picked up 19 out of the 20 wickets to fall.

And at the Kennington Oval, where India hammered England by 157 runs, it was the pacers who stood up once again. 14 out of the 20 England wickets were scalped by the Indian pacers.

And finally, at Centurion, the South African batting lineup had no answers to the questions posed by the Indian pacers as18 out of the 20 wickets were taken by the pacers. So, in the 80 wickets that India have taken in these four overseas wins, a staggering 67 wickets have been taken by the pacers.

Mohammed Shami has made the ball move both ways, Jasprit Bumrah has bamboozled batters with his superb yorkers, while Mohammed Siraj has bowled with passion, and has hurried batters with his pace and bounce. And needless to say, India’s superb overseas success in Test cricket in 2021 was spearheaded by the Indian pacers.