Virender Sehwag [Images] on Thursday said India would be looking to post a huge first innings total and put South Africa in to bat on a crumbling pitch on the final day of the opening Test in Chennai.

"We will try to bat for around two days and look to put them in on the final day. We will look to get a lead of around 50-100 runs and put pressure on them. If we get close to their first innings total, then it will be difficult for them because batting will not be easy on the fifth day. Everyone knows that the Chennai wicket spins and bounce so it will be difficult to bat against Harbhajan [Singh] and [Anil] Kumble on the final day," he said.

South Africa made a mammoth 540 in their first innings courtesy of Hashim Amla's brilliant knock of 159 and a brisk 94 from Neil McKenzie. India made a strong reply courtesy of Sehwag's quickfire 52 that saw them put on 82 for no loss in 21 overs at close on day two.

The right-hander also lauded the efforts of spin twins Kumble and Harbhajan, who bowled a total of 90 overs between them in two days.

Harbhajan emerged as India's best bowler with a haul of five for 164 in 44.5 overs, while Kumble took two for 106 in 45 overs.

"I think the bowlers had to work hard to get the wickets because it is not an easy wicket to bowl on. We planned to be patient. Whenever you play in India you are expected to bowl out the opposition as early as possible because Kumble and Harbhajan are bowling. But it is not easy always especially when the pitch is so flat. I think Harbhajan and Kumble deserve special praise for their efforts with the ball and restricted South Africa. We tried to get them out as early as possible but they also batted well," Sehwag said.

The Indian fielding was once again a huge letdown. The young pace duo of S Sreesanth [Images] and RP Singh committed quite a few silly errors much to the frustration of the captain and team management.

Sehwag assured that the team is working hard on their fielding. "We will try and improve. Everybody didn't field well. We all want to do well but sometimes the intensity level drops maybe because of the heat."

The Delhi opener, however, believes the pitch may not break until the final day.

"I think so it will crack maybe on the fifth day. It is a true pitch, it has good bounce," he said.

Sehwag refused to believe that heat could impact the Indian team's performance in the series.

"I don't think so. All the players are used to playing in India. And in India wherever you play after March it is hot. Next we are going to Ahmedabad which is also a hot place and after that Kanpur, where you find dry heat in April, so we are pretty used to the heat," he said.

He also offered encouragement to his opening partner Wasim Jaffer [Images], who was retained in the team despite his failures in Australia.

"I don't think you should judge a player just on one bad series. If you see his record, out of his five hundreds two are double centuries. We have got a good opener after so long and people are behind him which is not a good thing. He played well today, played tight just like an opener should do. I am sure he will play a big innings tomorrow for which he is famous," quipped Sehwag.