Sehwag has set the game for us: Gambhir

Chennai:

Virender Sehwag's belligerent knock has set the game for India and knocking down the required 256 runs should not be a problem on Monday, according to opener Gautam Gambhir.

Chasing 387 on the wearing track at the MA Chidambaram Stadium was not exactly a cakewalk, especially considering how India folded up for 241 in the first essay. Sehwag, however, threw the game wide open with a 68-ball 83 and Gambhir insists his teammates can score the required runs and take a 1-0 lead in the series.

"A lot of credit goes to Virender Sehwag, the way he started the innings. He set the game for us and I think 256 tomorrow is a very chaseable total," said Gambhir, who would return on Monday to do his bit to knock down the total.

"It's a pleasure watching him from the non-striker's end. When he plays like this, my job becomes very easy, because the bowlers become defensive," Gambhir said of his senior partner.

The Delhi player admitted that the England spin twin Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar have done well so far in the match but insisted it might not be enough to avoid an Indian win.

"They have been bowling well and there is a lot (in the pitch) for the spinners too. I think all three results are possible tomorrow but we are optimistic of chasing down the total," said the left-hander.

"We won the one day series 5-0, we were high on confidence and we want to take that confidence in the Test series as well. We didn't play well in the first innings but it's a very chaseable total here," Gambhir added.