Sehwag hits out at Bangalore pitch

The Indian opener on Saturday criticised the pitch despite scoring a blazing 201 saying that "a true Test pitch should favours both batsmen and bowlers".

Dashing Indian opener Virender Sehwag on Saturday criticised the pitch despite scoring a blazing 201 in the third and final Test against Pakistan.

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"How can you say it's a good Test pitch? More than nine hundred runs have been scored in three days," said Sehwag, who helped his team avoid a follow-on with his brilliant knock.

India were 379/6 at stumps on the third day in reply to Pakistan's massive first-innings total of 570.

"A true Test pitch is the one which favours both batsmen and bowlers," said Sehwag, who has so far made 506 runs in the ongoing three-match series.

Sehwag, 26, smashed two sixes and 28 fours in his 262-ball knock and became the fastest Indian to complete 3,000 Test runs during his 10th three-figure knock in 55 innings, surpassing Mohammad Azharuddin (64).

Sehwag, who scored India's first triple-hundred at Multan against the same opposition last year, said scoring big against Pakistan was always his aim.

"I try to make runs against other teams as well, but since we don't want to lose against Pakistan, the aim is to always score as much as possible," said Sehwag, who scored 173 in the drawn first Test at Mohali.

He followed it up with 81 in the second Test at Kolkata, where India won by 195 runs to gain a 1-0 lead.

Sehwag defended his style of scoring briskly even in a five-day Test.

"It's my style whether I play a one-dayer or a Test. You don't need to change your style if you are performing well," said Sehwag.

Sehwag put on 98 for the opening wicket with Gautam Gambhir (24), 74 for the next with Dravid, 85 for the third with Tendulkar and 80 for the fourth with Laxman.

"I knew I had to add runs for each wicket and I am happy that I was involved in four good stands," Sehwag said, adding he did not believe his team could lose the match.

"We are not in a losing position," he said.

"If we add another 100 runs on day four, the pressure will be on Pakistan, who have to set a target for us."

India were 191 runs behind with the last four wickets in hand.