India's bowling unit never looked in better shape than during the traditional Irani Trophy match between Rest of India and Ranji Trophy champions Delhi.
Zaheer Khan was at the peak of his form, Ishant Sharma proved too hot to handle, Munaf Patel and R P Singh provided able back-up, while spin twins Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, as always, showed they are still capable of winning matches on their own.
India coach Gary Kirsten was all praise for his bowlers after India's domestic season-opening fixture. He is confident that, barring any injuries in the next few days, they will put up a good showing in the upcoming Test series against Australia.
"Barring any injuries, our bowling attack is looking really good. Everyone is bowling well; the form is good, hitting the right areas, bowling with great intensity. Everyone is motivated for this Test series and they are feeling very confident about what they are going to do in a cricket field at the moment. It would be nice if the bowlers can take their peak form into the Test matches [against Australia]," Kirsten said after Rest of India beat Delhi by 187 runs to win the Irani Trophy in Vadodara.
"I am very happy with the way they [fast bowlers] went about their business in the [Irani Trophy] game. You know, barring any injuries, and if they are fit and ready to go, we will have a good pace attack for the Australian series," he added.
India's leading batsmen also had a good outing despite the five-day contest finishing well within four days. Gautam Gambhir top-scored in the match with a valiant knock of 91, while Mahendra Singh Dhoni played the most entertaining knock of the game with a cracking 84 to help Rest of India seize the initiative.
Rahul Dravid, who has struggled for runs in the last few months, also spent some quality time in the middle, scoring 46 and 69, much to the relief of his coach. Kirsten believes that Dravid has a good record in Test cricket and there is no need to doubt his abilities for the Test series against Australia.
"I think it is good for him. What he wanted to achieve from this game he has been able to do that. He has been a key player for the Indian side. He has been highly successful for a number of years and I know he will be up for the challenge of playing the number one side in the world.
"These guys look themselves a bit more when they are playing the top sides," Kirsten said.
The former South Africa opener refused to criticize players like VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag, who failed to score enough runs in the Irani Trophy game, which was considered as an important part of India's preparation for the Australia series.
"As I have said before, these players are experienced cricketers and have performed well for India for many, many years. You don't look at one game and say this player is ready to play Test cricket or not. I look at 6-7 months of performances and not just one game.
"If the guy has been performing for 6-7 months or even for the year that becomes very important in terms of whether you are going to select him to play Test cricket or not and certainly not one game," Kirsten said.
He refused to look too much into Australia's early arrival in India and the generosity extended by the Rajasthan Cricket Association, which even angered some officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
Former India coach Greg Chappell is also travelling with the Australian team for the four-Test and there are fears he could leak out secrets about India's key players, but Kirsten is not worried.
"It will have its advantages and disadvantages. As I said, we are not really focusing on what the Australians are doing. Our focus of attention is on what we need to do and how we need to prepare for this very exciting Test series. We are not looking too closely at that," he said, adding that most of his players have achieved the targets they set for this match.
"We got what we needed out of this game. From an Indian point of view, it was a part of our preparation, so we are very happy with that. The players that we felt needed to make a contribution did so and we are very happy from that perspective."
He added that Rest of India was looking to win the match right from the outset so as to get the momentum ahead of the Australia series.
"I think the focus of attention was to win this game. We felt we needed to play good, positive cricket and look to win it to give us the momentum going into the Test series. As I have said many times, this match has been a part of our preparation, so it was the focus of attention at the beginning of the match but it was also an opportunity for the likes of Rahul, Gambhir and Veeru and to really get their match pace on and their game intensity up.
"We know the Australians are going to be very competitive; they are going to be organized; they are going to be prepared and their intensity is going to be there so we need to match it," he said.
Mohammad Kaif and Subramaniam Badrinath also failed to stake a claim for a berth in the Test squad after disappointing in both the innings of the match.
"It is up to the individual to take his opportunity, to say we are ready to fill that gap or certainly to look as an option to be in the team. I guess it is really up to the individual to show what he is capable of and also for the selectors to look at his performances in the last 6-7 months," Kirsten said.
India take on Australia in a four-match Test series, beginning in Bangalore on October 9.
