Indian captain Sourav Ganguly on Monday asked his players to carry forward the success of 2004 to the coming season after the visitors finished the year on a high note with a 2-0 Test series whitewash against Bangladesh.
India ended the season with six wins from 11 Tests which included three series wins -- against Pakistan, South Africa and Bangladesh.
"We played very well in 2004, especially in Test cricket. We need to continue in the same vein. We are playing well for the last two and half years. We must carry on," Ganguly said after India's innings and 83-run win over Bangladesh in the second and final cricket Test in Chittagong.
The Indian captain credited his teammates for the fine run in Test cricket but said the side needed to be a little more consistent in one-dayers.
"They have all done very well. It's really difficult to single out any one person. (Virender) Sehwag, Rahul (Dravid), Sachin (Tendulkar), (VVS) Laxman and (Gautam) Gambhir all played well.
"There were failures here and there but that is part and parcel of the game. (Irfan) Pathan was also outstanding," he said.
With the Indians scheduled to play three one-dayers against the hosts, Ganguly said the players needed to apply themselves a little more.
"We have been a bit inconsistent in one-dayers. Fielding needed to be a bit better. We need to apply ourselves more in the one-dayers," he said.
Although Bangladesh crashed to their 31st defeat in 34 Tests, Ganguly said the minnows have the talent to make a place for themselves at the highest level.
"There is enormous talent in the team. India had also taken a few years to settle down at the highest level. Everyone should be patient with them. Chopping and changing won't help," he said.
Pathan, who bagged the man of the series award for his 18-wicket haul in the two Tests, said he was happy the way his career has progressed since making the debut against Australia just over a year back.
"Everything is going in the right direction. It's very good so far and I am happy with my performance. But this is due to the support I have been getting from the team," Pathan said.
Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar said his side drew a few positives from the series loss against India.
"One of them is Mohammad Ashraful, who is a fine player and came up with an outstanding performance in the first innings here," Bashar said.
"We must work on our batting. Losing too many wickets to new ball continues to be a problem."
Ashraful, whose 158 not out in the first innings earned him the man of the match award, said he had to concentrate hard while facing the Indian bowling.
"It was not a easy wicket to bat on specially against bowlers like Pathan, Zaheer (Khan), (Anil) Kumble and Harbhajan (Singh). I played ball by ball," the 20-year-old middle order batsman said.