Having made one of the all-time greats of the game appear a novice, the 19-year-old was finally rewarded with the Aussie skipper's wicket, a crucial strike in India's march towards victory.

Ishant is just four Tests old, but with each game, he has improved dramatically. He said on Sunday that he hadn't found the step up to international cricket a massive challenge. "Yes, there is a change in the level, but that doesn't change my bowling. Good balls are good balls, whether it is in domestic cricket or at the international level. That doesn't change," observed Ishant, showing an awareness that might have taken many by surprise.

Ishant admitted that he hadn't bowled a better spell in his life than his nine-over burst on Saturday. "I can't remember a better spell, it has to be the best of my career so far. It's a great feeling to dismiss a great batsman like Ponting, who is one of my favourite batsmen. To do that twice in the same match is even more satisfying," said Ishant, who had Ponting caught twice by Rahul Dravid, at third slip in the first innings and at first slip in the second.

"I am bowling well, and that is a good sign. My job is to just concentrate on what I need to do. We obviously watch videos and identify weak areas of specific batsmen, try to attack their weaknesses."

Despite bowling excellently in both Sydney and Perth, Ishant hasn't got wickets by the bagful. "Sometimes you can get disappointed, but I am okay with it. I know that the wickets will come sooner rather than later," he observed, invoking the almighty. Then, he said of his ability to swing the ball into the right-handers, "That is a God-given gift. I have always had a good inswinger, but I got more swing here because of the breeze."