It was a good toss to win for Dhoni’s team as the Green Park pitch is expected to crumble and keep low as the match goes ahead. Sehwag was put down by the keeper and first slip in the very first over when he had not even opened his account. After a watchful first hour, Sehwag along with Gambhir got used to the slow pace of the wicket and what followed in the rest of the morning session and the afternoon one was a wonderful display of strokeplay by both the openers.

By the time Sri Lanka could break the opening partnership which was in the 42nd over, India had raced away to 233! Sehwag was the first to go after driving Murali in the air to covers but not before he had set up the match with a dominating 18th test century. His innings contained a couple off sixes which came against Ajantha Mendis. Gautam Gambhir lasted a little longer than Sehwag and was key to another solid partnership in the day for India. The left hander put on 137 with the inform Rahul Dravid before getting brilliantly caught and bowled by Muralitharan. Gambhir’s 167 had 15 fours and most of his runs had come from some superb running. It was his 8th test hundred and the second consecutive one against Sri Lanka.

At close of play, Rahul Dravid (85* from 153 balls with 8 fours) consolidated India’s position with an unbeaten stand of 47 with Sachin Tendulkar (20* from 53 balls). The hosts had made two changes going into this match with Sreesanth and Pragyan Ojha replacing Ishant Sharma and birthday boy Amit Mishra. Sri Lanka brought in Ajantha Mendis in the place of the injured Dammika Prasad.

Australia’s chances of winning the fourth ODI at Mohali have been boosted with the injuries to the two Indian batsmen – Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir. The Delhi pair had sustained injuries during the third ODI at their home ground. Both these batsmen are likely to miss tomorrow’s match and the Indian Selectors have given a SOS to Dinesh Karthik to join the team.

Gautam Gambhir was injured while fielding at the dangerous position of short leg. He got a nasty blow on the side of his neck from a full blooded pull shot from the Australian Skipper Ricky Ponting. Gambhir left the field after that moment but returned back to bat at his normal position of no.3. The left hander scored 6 from 15 balls before getting clean bowled by Nathan Hauritz. Gambhir has been in terrific form though having struck half centuries in both the 1st and the 2nd ODIs.

On the other hand, Virender Sehwag injured his toe after getting smacked on it by a yorker from Peter Siddle. Sehwag scored 11 from 25 balls yesterday before getting bowled by Mitchell Johnson. India will be unlucky if they lose Sehwag for tomorrow’s game as he had already missed quite a few matches recently due to a shoulder injury.