Match report | Scorecard | Graphical scorecard
Virender Sehwag scored his fourth Test century on the third day of the Mohali Test against New Zealand on Saturday.
His unbeaten 128, off 212 balls, spurred India's retort to the Kiwis' huge first innings total of 630.
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"I was playing a Test after a long time and it is always important to get a hundred and play a big innings."
Last month Sehwag had said that he would prefer to bat in the middle-order. He later told rediff.com, "I agreed to open the innings in England because that was the only way I could have ever played Test cricket for India. But that is not my strength and I would rather play in the middle-order."
Today, after the chanceless hundred he will probably come to terms with his role as Test opener.
He praised his opening partner, Aakash Chopra, calling him a steady opener.
"We play together for Delhi and share a good understanding," he said.
Sehwag got to his hundred in 145 balls after spending 215 minutes at the wicket.
He said avoiding the follow-on was the main goal of the team at the outset and confessed that he was nervous on 99, when his partner Chopra was dismissed.
"Waiting at 99 can be frustrating. You always get nervous in the nineties."
Having got off to a great start, he would now do well to camp at the wicket and aim for a double century tomorrow.
As one of the selectors said, "We should have at least eight centuries in the Indian innings."