Ganguly, the Indian captain won the toss and chose to bat first. The Indian openers justified his choice by playing some watchful cricket in the first hour, which produced less than thirty runs. Virender Sehwag was particularly watchful, and at one stage, had made only 16 runs from 53 balls. The two openers also played out three successive maidens within this period. However, by lunch, they made 89 for no loss, and by then Sehwag had completed his fifty from 78 balls, with eight fours and one six, the latter being swung away inside-out above extra cover into the stands, off MacGill.