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The failure of India's top line batsmen in the first innings of recent Tests continued at the Gabba and they are counting on bad weather to escape with a draw.
India's first innings woes have continued, allowing Australia's pace attack to take control of the third Test at the Gabba.
While rain may have the final say in deciding the current match, if the trend continues India will struggle to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
At stumps on the third day India were 4-51 and still trailing by 394 runs on the first innings.
This is now the eighth Test in a row in which India's batsmen have disappointed in the first innings, stretching back to their two-Test series against Bangladesh in September.
None of the top seven have made a century and collectively they now average less than 22 during that period.
Their demise on day three on Monday was partly of their own making while also due to excellent bowling by Australia's pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.
Yashasvi Jaiswal (4) flicked a Starc half-volley straight to Mitch Marsh at square leg. Shubman Gill (1) drove loosely at Starc with an open bat face to be brilliantly snaffled by Marsh in the gully.
Virat Kohli (3) and Rishabh Pant (9) were out to ripsnorters by Hazlewood and Cummins respectively.
India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has carried the side's bowling on his back but said he did not blame the batters for making him have to work harder. Jaiswal, for instance, is on his first Test tour of Australia.
"We don't as a team point fingers at each other. We don't want to get in that mindset," Bumrah said.
"As a team we are going through a transition. It's not the easiest place to play cricket here with the Test wickets being a different challenge.
"This is the journey every team will go through."
The other worry for India is the Australian pace trio have the wood on several of their top order.
Jaiswal, who did make a brilliant second innings 161 in Perth, has now been dismissed three times in the series by Starc, as has opening partner KL Rahul.
Cummins has removed Pant three times.
India's struggles are also highlighted by the fact Kohli, whilst making an unbeaten 100 in the second innings in Perth, has only managed one score exceeding 10 in the first innings of his past eight Tests.
Australia's plan to Kohli is to get him playing away from his body outside off stump, so when it works there is a sense of relief.
"Every time he comes to the crease we know it is a big wicket for them," Australia allrounder Mitch Marsh said.
"We know he is one of the greatest players ever. It is just about being really diligent and executing your plans. It's always great to see the back of one of the game's greats."