MELBOURNE: Virender Sehwag said Wednesday he is gearing up to give India a solid start after their impending run chase to ensure victory in the opening Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The uninhibited opening batsman will play a key role for the tourists as Australia take a 230-run lead into Thursday's fourth day with two wickets left as they look to add to their lead.
Batting has not been easy on the drop-in MCG pitch and after three days of play no batsman has yet reached a hundred, although Australian Mike Hussey was unbeaten at 79 on Wednesday.
Sehwag, who slammed 67 off 83 balls in the first innings, said India was aiming for a winning target under 300.
"I think it was a good day for India. The match is evenly balanced. If we (want to) win the game we will have to bat really well," he said.
"It's important for us to give a good start for the team, then we will have a very good chance to win this Test match."
A first-up victory would be a huge fillip for India, who have not won a series in Australia in nine previous tours over 64 years.
The tourists boast a formidable batting lineup in Test cricket with Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, V.V.S. Laxman, Gautam Gambhir and Sehwag, but the explosive opener gave special praise to India's bowlers in the Melbourne Test.
Australia looked to ram home a 51-run innings lead only for Zaheer Khan, Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma to bowl the tourists back into contention when they reduced Australia to 27 for four.
Mike Hussey and Ricky Ponting (60) pulled the home side out of the mire with a 115-run partnership, but India hit back with four wickets in the final 70 minutes.
"This is the best Indian bowling attack I've ever played with," Sehwag said.
"The captain said just go out there and give your best because this is the moment where we expect from the bowlers to bowl in good areas because the wicket is doing something.
"I think in the first spell bowlers Yadav, Sharma and Zaheer bowled beautifully."
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