Sehwag - It's in the balance

Virender Sehwag: confident of claiming victory in Melbourne

Virender Sehwag is confident India can chase down any score below 300 to win the first Test against Australia at the MCG.

Australia finished a topsy-turvy third day tottering on 179-8, currently leading by 230 with two wickets in hand and Sehwag insists the match is still very evenly balanced.

"I think anything less than 300 is a gettable target. The match presently is well balanced. Anyone who works hard tomorrow or on the next day can win," said Sehwag.

The right-hander is known for his swashbuckling starts with the bat, but insists the chase will be a team effort once the final two Australian wickets are taken.

"This is India's best bowling attack I have ever played with."
Virender Sehwag Quotes of the week

"It's not me alone who would win the Test. It's everyone's role. Yes, if we give a good start then we have a very good chance to win the Test," stated Sehwag.

"If we have to win the game, we have to bat really well on the fourth or fifth day," he added.

Struggle

It was a tough morning for India on day three as they lost their last seven wickets for 68 runs, but a fiery burst from Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma brought India back into the match with early wickets.

"The captain said (during the innings break) that we needed to go out there and give our best," added Sehwag.

"He said this is the moment when we expect bowlers to bowl in right areas because the wicket is doing something.

"As I said, the bowlers bowled very well. This is India's best bowling attack I have ever played with."

With 15 wickets falling on Wednesday, Sehwag cited an inconsistent pitch as the main reason for the lack of runs and believes batsmen will always struggle with uneven bounce against the faster bowlers.

He said: "It's because the ball is not coming on to the bat. It's stopping and coming. Batsmen are playing early and that's why (we) are getting inside edges.

"I think we bowled very well, it's up to the batsmen now, the wicket has some help for seamers, especially with the new ball, even when it gets old, it offers some help to the bowlers.

"But I like playing on such a track rather than the dead ones back home."