New Delhi, Nov 8: Returning from injury, opener Virender Sehwag top-scored with 55 runs in India’s first innings total of 209 on Day 2 of the first Test match against the visiting West Indies.
Speaking to the media at the end of day’s play, the explosive Indian opener said that the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium pitch still had a lot to offer. He added that India had a chance to put things right with three days to go in the first Test of the three-match series.
"I don't think the wicket is to be blamed [for the collapse]. The pitch is still good to bat [on], though it is a bit low in bounce. We are confident of chasing 250 to 300 runs [in the fourth innings]," Sehwag said.
It was his opening partner, and local cricketer, Gautam Gambhir’s run-out at the non-striker’s end that triggered India’s batting collapse. Sehwag soon followed him back to the dressing-room courtesy a brilliant piece of stumping by WI keeper Carlton Baugh.
Speaking about the top-order dismissals that found India in a precarious position, the Delhi batsman said, “It happens in Test cricket. Gautam Gambhir's run-out and my dismissal through stumping I think were soft dismissals."
"Then Sachin [Tendulkar] and VVS Laxman were out and we were all out. We have to be careful in the second innings. We cannot repeat the mistakes," he observed.
In response to West Indies captain Darren Sammy’s aim – which is to add 250 more runs to set India a winning target of over 350 – Sehwag said, "There is a difference [between] saying and doing it actually. We are looking at bundling them out [for] around 150.
"The Test is still on the same keel and we have to be patient and wait for loose balls in the fourth innings," the veteran cricketer observed.
On his aggressive partnership with Gambhir, in view of the subsequent batting collapse, Sehwag said, "My job is to play shots whenever there is a ball to be hit, whether you get a boundary or get out.
"I have been doing that for long. I and Gambhir have a great understanding and the West Indies bowlers also were not that disciplined initially and so the scoring rate was high," he explained.
"Our middle-order batsmen are an experienced lot and they know their game more than anybody. It just happened that they could not contribute much today. They will do well in the fourth innings," he added.
When asked about how he felt out in the middle after returning from injury, he said, "I felt good while batting. I was hitting the ball well, though I was lucky initially. I wanted to convert my fifty into hundred but could not do that today. That was my mistake. I will try to at least score a hundred in the remaining two matches."
