Colombo: It is seven and a half years since VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid performed the rescue mission at the Eden Gardens against Australia.

India are again hoping that the miracle can be repeated at P Sara Oval here on Monday when they resume their partnership of 30 with a lead if only 14. Laxman has a dodgy ankle and Dravid is struggling to find form.

That is the take of Harbhajan Singh when he told the post day three media conference that India are still looking to win.

"We are not out (of the match)," he suggested with a confident smile. "There is still a big hope on Laxman and Rahul.

"They are very capable of getting 100s and we are keeping our fingers crossed that both can get brilliant hundreds tomorrow. We will then have some sort of target to defend then. Let us see what can be done..

"Whatever we get – say a 150 runs or more (lead) we will try and manufacture a win out of this game. But let us see as the need is to bat really well tomorrow to get those runs."

Harbhajan admitted that Sachin Tendulkar and Laxman were still in a lot of pain.

"It is great the way they came out to bat. They felt it was important from the team's point of view that they should bat. Hats off to them. Having a serious injury and still they have come out to bat."

But he agreed that the failure of the opening partnership had been a disappointment.

"It would have been good if the openers had contributed," he said. "It is good to get a good start. But this didn't happen and we cannot do anything about that. It is why there is a need to have to play well tomorrow and make sure we get maximum runs we can."

The injury to Ishant Sharma though is a major blow to the attack.

"It is important to have your four bowlers fit when you are playing a Test. But unfortunately you cannot do anything about the (Ishant) injury. It could have happened to anybody. Losing him in the middle of the game is a setback. I think there were only three bowlers when we were bowling trying to get wickets on this flat wicket. Hopefully Ishant will be fit soon and he will be back soon."

Harbhajan was another to lend his support to the referral system.

"To be very honest I did not check the referral system decisions (today). But I feel that it is good for the game.. I believe it is very fair."