Mauled in Melbourne, savaged in Sydney and punished in Perth - it's hard not to believe India's cricketers are a spent force this summer.
After suffering their seventh successive Test loss on the road with a humiliating innings defeat inside three days at the WACA Ground, and with captain MS Dhoni banned for next week's final Test in Adelaide, the tourists will have to complete a remarkable reversal to avoid a 4-0 series whitewash.
Even if the Indians overcome their issues to mount a fightback at the Adelaide Oval, Australian opener David Warner believes his team's desire to complete a series clean sweep will prove the difference in the Fourth Test.
"As Michael Clarke said the other day after the game [in Perth], celebrate your win, but at the end of the day we want to try to beat the second team in the world four-nil," Warner said yesterday.
"That's a massive thing for us at the moment. Our goal is to become number one again by the next Ashes in 2013.
"If we can keep working towards that, our goals will be achieved."
And while India's tour of Australia has been an abject disaster for the tourists, Warner is still wary of the champion batting line-up which has failed to fire so far this summer.
"There might be a lot of people in their shed wondering how they're going to score runs," the 25-year-old said.
"In my mind there is probably only one player [in form] and that's Sachin Tendulkar, who looks like he's using a sight screen when he comes out to bat.
"But the other players, they're all world-class players. You look at the amount of runs they've got in the top six in their careers. It's phenomenal.
"We are expecting them to show some aggression in this next Test."
Aggression was certainly on show during Warner's whirlwind 180 in Perth, the feisty left-hander sharing a verbal stoush with Indian quick Ishant Sharma, as well as being hit on the head and arm during his combative knock.
The blow to his head has left Warner suffering dizzy spells in the wake of the Third Test but he feels he should be fine to line up in Adelaide, although his condition will continue to be monitored in the build-up.
And as far as he's concerned, a bit of niggle on the cricket pitch is what should be expected during a series between two proud nations.
"When you come to a series like Australia against India you're playing for your countries," Warner said.
"The competition on the field is exactly what it is. We are all about playing for Australia, they are all about playing for India.
"There is always going to be a bit of banter on the field and then off the field you're going to be mates. That's the way it should be.
"You've got to be warriors on the field and saints off it."
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