Sehwag says Indian skipper is perfect at number three

Lahore: The phenomenal unbeaten 403-run partnership between Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid has only increased India's dilemma for the next two test matches.

The partnership, which is 11 runs away from being the highest in the history of test cricket, has raised a question on whether the same opening pair should continue in the future.

If Sehwag has his way, then Dravid should not be seen in an opener's role.

"I don't think Dravid should always open the innings with me. He opened the innings this time because we didn't have an opener to go with," he said. "Once in a while it's ok to open but he's the best No 3 batsman."

Team manager Raj Singh Dungarpur also admitted that the big partnership had "created a lot of problems for the team" but did not elaborate further.

It's a well-known that to accommodate Sourav Ganguly in the side, Dravid opted to open.

In fact, till the morning of the match, it was the former captain who was supposed to take strike first. But with Dravid not having faith in Ganguly, he chose to open himself — his logic being that he was more accustomed to facing the new ball as he has always batted at No 3.

A senior Pakistan player lauded Dravid's approach saying that had the Pakistan bowlers seen Ganguly coming out to open, it would have given them the extra zip to have a go at him.

"We wanted Ganguly to open the batting," he said not willing to be named. "Had he opened, who knows the game would have headed in a different direction. A quick wicket first up would have only added to the pressure," he said.